Hermas 1:5 And, looking at her, I
said to her, "Lady, what doest thou here?" Then she answered me,
"I was taken up, that I might convict thee of thy sins before the
Lord."
Hermas 1:6 I said to her, "Dost thou now convict
me?" "Nay, not so," said she, "but hear the words,
that I shall say to thee. God, Who dwelleth in the heavens, and created
out of nothing the things which are, and increased and multiplied them for
His holy Church's sake, is wroth with thee, for that thou didst sin
against me."
Hermas 1:7 I answered her and said, "Sin against
thee? In what way? Did I ever speak an unseemly word unto thee? Did I not
always regard thee as a goddess? Did I not always respect thee as a
sister? How couldst thou falsely charge me, lady, with such villainy and
uncleanness?
Hermas 1:8 "Laughing she saith unto me, "The desire
after evil entered into thine heart. Nay, thinkest thou not that it is an
evil deed for a righteous man, if the evil desire should enter into his
heart? It is indeed a sin and a great one too," saith she; "for
the righteous man entertaineth righteous purposes. While then his purposes
are righteous, his repute stands steadfast in the heavens, and he finds
the Lord easily propitiated in all that he does. But they that entertain
evil purposes in their hearts, bring upon themselves death an captivity,
especially they that claim for themselves this present work and boast in
its riches, and cleave not to the good things that are to come.
Hermas 1:9
Their souls shall rue it, seeing that they have no hope, but have
abandoned themselves and their life. But do thou pray unto God and He
shall heal thine own sins, and those of thy whole house, and of all the
saints."
Hermas 2:1 As soon as she had spoken these words the heavens
were shut and I was given over to horror and grief Then I said within
myself "If this sin is recorded against me, how can I be saved? Or
how shall I propitiate God for my sins which are full-blown? Or with which
words shall I entreat the Lord that He may be propitious unto me?
Hermas
2:2 While I was advising and discussing these matters in my heart, I see,
before me a great white chair of snow-white wool; and there came an aged
lady in glistening raiment, having a book in her hands, and she sat down
alone, and she saluted me, "Good morrow,
Hermas." Then I grieved
and weeping, said, "Good morrow, lady."
Hermas 2:3 And she said
to me "Why so gloomy,
Hermas, thou that art patient and good-tempered
and art always smiling? Why so downcast in thy looks, and far from
cheerful?" And I said to her, "Because of an excellent lady's
saying that I had sinned against her."
Hermas 2:4 Then she said,
"Far be this thing from the servant of God! Nevertheless the thought
did enter into thy heart concerning her. Now to the servants of God such a
purpose bringeth sin. For it is an evil and mad purpose to overtake a
devout spirit that hath been already approved, that it should desire an
evil deed, and especially if it be
Hermas the temperate, who abstaineth
from every evil desire, and is full of all simplicity and of great
guilelessness.
Hermas 3:1 "Yet it is not for this that God is wroth
with thee, but that thou mayest convert thy family, that hath done wrong
against the Lord and against you their parents. But out of fondness for
thy children thou didst not admonish thy family, but didst suffer it to
become fearfully corrupt. Therefore the Lord is wroth with thee. But He
will heal all thy past sins, which have been committed in thy family; for
by reason of their sins and iniquities thou hast been corrupted by the
affairs of this world.
Hermas 3:2 But the great mercy of the Lord had pity
on thee and thy family, and will strengthen thee, and establish thee in
His glory. Only be not thou careless, but take courage, and strengthen thy
family. For as the smith hammering his work conquers the task which he
wills, so also doth righteous discourse repeated daily conquer all evil.
Cease not therefore to reprove thy children; for I know that if they shall
repent with all their heart, they shall be written in the books of life
with the saints."
Hermas 3:3 After these words of hers had ceased,
she saith unto me, "Wilt thou listen to me as I read?" Then say
I, "Yes, lady." She saith to me, "Be attentive, and hear
the glories of God" I listened with attention and with wonder to that
which I had no power to remember; for all the words were terrible, such as
man cannot bear. The last words however I remembered, for they were
suitable for us and gentle.
Hermas 3:4 "Behold, the God of Hosts, Who
by His invisible and mighty power and by His great wisdom created the
world, and by His glorious purpose clothed His creation with comeliness,
and by His strong word fixed the heaven, and founded the earth upon the
waters, and by His own wisdom and providence formed His holy Church, which
also He blessed-behold, He removeth the heavens and the mountains and the
hills and the seas, and all things are made level for His elect, that He
may fulfill to them the promise which He promised with great glory and
rejoicing, if so be that they shall keep the ordinances of God, which they
received, with great faith."
Hermas 4:1 When then she finished
reading and arose from her chair, there came four young men, and they took
away the chair, and departed towards the East.
Hermas 4:2 Then she calleth
me unto her, and she touched my breast, and saith to me, "Did my
reading please thee?" And I say unto her, "Lady, these last
words please me, but the former were difficult and hard." Then she
spake to me, saying, "These last words are for the righteous, but the
former are for the heathen and the rebellious."
Hermas 4:3 While she
yet spake with me, two men appeared, and took her by the arms, and they
departed, whither the chair also had gone, towards the East. And she
smiled as she departed and, as she was going, she saith to me, "Play
the man,
Hermas."
Hermas 1[5]:heading Vision 2
Hermas 1[5]:1 I was on
the way to Cumae, at the same season as last year, and called to mind my
last year's vision as I walked; and again a Spirit taketh me, and carrieth
me away to the same place as last year.
Hermas 1[5]:2 When then I arrived
at the place, I fell upon my knees, and began to pray to the Lord, and to
glorify His name, for that he counted me worthy, and made known unto me my
former sins.
Hermas 1[5]:3 But after I had risen up from prayer, I behold
before me the aged lady, whom also I had seen last year, walking and
reading a little book. And she saith to me, "Canst thou report these
things to the elect of God?" I say unto her, "Lady, I cannot
recollect so much; but give me the little book, that I may copy it."
"Take it," saith she, "and be sure and return it to
me."
Hermas 1[5]:4 I took it, and retiring to a certain spot in the
country I copied it letter for letter: for I could not make out the
syllables. When then I had finished the letters of the book, suddenly the
book was snatched out of my hand; but by whom I did not see.
Hermas 2[6]:1
Now after fifteen days, when I had fasted and entreated the Lord
earnestly, the knowledge of the writing was revealed to me. And this is
what was written:--
Hermas 2[6]:2 "Thy seed,
Hermas, have sinned
against God, and have blasphemed the Lord, and have betrayed their parents
through great wickedness, yea, they have got the name of betrayers of
parents, and yet they did not profit by their betrayal; and they still
further added to their sins wanton deeds and reckless wickedness; and so
the measure of their transgressions was filled up.
Hermas 2[6]:3 But make
these words known to all thy children, and to thy wife who shall be as thy
sister; for she too refraineth not from using her tongue, wherewith she
doeth evil. But, when she hears these words, she will refrain, and will
find mercy.
Hermas 2[6]:4 After that thou hast made known unto them all
these words, which the Master commanded me that they should be revealed
unto thee, then all their sins which they sinned aforetime are forgiven to
them; yea, and to all the saints that have sinned unto this day, if they
repent with their whole heart, and remove double-mindedness from their
heart.
Hermas 2[6]:5 For the Master sware by His own glory, as concerning
His elect; that if, now that this day has been set as a limit, sin shall
hereafter be committed, they shall not find salvation; for repentance for
the righteous hath an end; the days of repentance are accomplished for all
the saints; whereas for the Gentiles there is repentance until the last
day.
Hermas 2[6]:6 Thou shalt therefore say unto the elders of the Church,
that they direct their paths in righteousness, that they may receive in
full the promises with abundant glory.
Hermas 2[6]:7 Ye therefore that
work righteousness be steadfast, and be not double-minded, that ye may
have admission with the holy angels. Blessed are ye, as many as endure
patiently the great tribulation that cometh, and as many as shall not deny
their life.
Hermas 2[6]:8 For the Lord swear concerning His Son, that
those who denied their Lord should be rejected from their life, even they
that are now about to deny Him in the coming days; but to those who denied
Him aforetime, to them mercy was given of His great loving kindness.
Hermas 3[7]:1 "But do thou,
Hermas, no longer bear a grudge against
thy children, neither suffer thy sister to have her way, so that they may
be purified from their former sins. For they shall be chastised with a
righteous chastisement, unless thou bear a grudge against them thyself.
The bearing of a grudge worketh death. But thou,
Hermas, hast had great
tribulations of thine own, by reason of the transgressions of thy family,
because thou hadst no care for them. For thou wast neglectful of them, and
wast mixed up with thine evil transactions.
Hermas 3[7]:2 But herein is
thy salvation, in that thou didst not depart from the living God, and in
thy simplicity and thy great continence. These have saved thee, if thou
abidest therein; and they save all who do such things, and walk in
guilelessness and simplicity. These men prevail over all wickedness, and
continue unto life eternal.
Hermas 3[7]:3 Blessed are all they that work
righteousness. They shall never be destroyed.
Hermas 3[7]:4 But thou shalt
say to Maximus, "Behold tribulation cometh (upon thee), if thou think
fit to deny a second time. <i>The Lord is nigh unto them that turn
unto him,</i> as it is written in Eldad and Modat, who prophesied to
the people in the wilderness."
Hermas 4[8]:1 Now, brethren, a
revelation was made unto me in my sleep by a youth of exceeding fair form,
who said to me, "Whom thinkest thou the aged woman, from whom thou
receivedst the book, to be?" I say, "The Sibyl" "Thou
art wrong," saith he, "she is not." "Who then is
she?" I say. "The Church," saith he. I said unto him,
"Wherefore then is she aged?" "Because," saith he,
"she was created before all things; therefore is she aged; and for
her sake the world was framed."
Hermas 4[8]:2 And afterwards I saw a
vision in my house. The aged woman came, and asked me, if I had already
given the book to the elders. I said that I had not given it. "Thou
hast done well," she said, "for I have words to add. When then I
shall have finished all the words, it shall be made known by thy means to
all the elect.
Hermas 4[8]:3 Thou shalt therefore write two little books,
and shalt send one to Clement, and one to Grapte. So Clement shall send to
the foreign cities, for this is his duty; while Grapte shall instruct the
widows and the orphans. But thou shalt read (the book) to this city along
with the elders that preside over the Church.
Hermas 1[9]y:1 Vision 3
Hermas 1[9]y:1 The third vision, which I saw, brethren, was as follows.
Hermas 1[9]y:2 After fasting often, and entreating the Lord to declare
unto me the revelation which He promised to show me by the mouth of the
aged woman, that very night the aged woman was seen of me, and she said to
me, "Seeing that thou art so importunate and eager to know all
things, come into the country where thou abidest, and about the fifth hour
I will appear, and will show thee what thou oughtest to see."
Hermas
1[9]y:3 I asked her, saying, "Lady, to what part of the
country?" "Where thou wilt," saith she. I selected a
beautiful and retired spot; but before I spoke to her and named the spot,
she saith to me, "I will come, whither thou willest."
Hermas
1[9]y:4 I went then, brethren, into the country, and I counted up the
hours, and came to the place where I appointed her to come, and I see an
ivory couch placed there, and on the couch there lay a linen cushion, and
on the cushion was spread a coverlet of fine linen of flax.
Hermas 1[9]y:5
When I saw these things so ordered, and no one in the place, I was amazed,
and a fit of trembling seized me, and my hair stood on end; and a fit of
shuddering came upon me, because I was alone. When then I recovered
myself, and remembered the glory of God, and took courage, I knelt down
and confessed my sins to the Lord once more, as I had done on the former
occasion.
Hermas 1[9]y:6 Then she came with six young men, the same whom I
had seen before, and she stood by me, and listened attentively to me, as I
prayed and confessed my sins to the Lord. And she touched me, and said:
"
Hermas, make an end of constantly entreating for thy sins; entreat
also for righteousness, that thou mayest take some part forthwith to thy
family."
Hermas 1[9]y:7 Then she raiseth me by the hand, and leadeth
me to the couch, and saith to the young men, "Go ye, and build."
Hermas 1[9]y:8 And after the young men had retired and we were left alone,
she saith to me, "Sit down here." I say to her, "Lady, let
the elders sit down first." "Do as I bid thee," saith she,
"sit down."
Hermas 1[9]y:9 When then I wanted to sit down on the
right side, she would not allow me, but beckoned me with her hand that I
should sit on the left side. As then I was musing thereon, and was sad
because she would not permit me to sit on the right side, she saith to me,
"Art thou sad,
Hermas? The place on the right side is for others,
even for those who have already been well-pleasing to God, and have
suffered for the Name's sake. But thou lackest much that thou shouldest
sit with them; but as thou abidest in thy simplicity, even so, and thou
shalt sit with them, thou and as many as shall have done their deeds, and
have suffered what they suffered."
Hermas 2[10]:1 "What did they
suffer?" say I. "Listen," saith she. "Stripes,
imprisonments, great tribulations, crosses, wild beasts, for the Name's
sake. Therefore to them belongs the right side of the Holiness--to them,
and to all who shall suffer for the Name. But for the rest is the left
side. Howbeit, to both, to them that sit on the right, and to them that
sit on the left, are the same gifts, and the same promises, only they sit
on the right and have a certain glory.
Hermas 2[10]:2 Thou indeed art very
desirous to sit on the right with them, but thy shortcomings are many; yet
thou shalt be purified from thy shortcomings; yea, and all that are not
double-minded shall be purified from all their sins unto this day."
Hermas 2[10]:3 When she had said this, she wished to depart; but, falling
at her feet, I entreated her by the Lord that she would show me the vision
which she promised.
Hermas 2[10]:4 Then she again took me by the hand, and
raiseth me, and seateth me on the couch at the left hand, while she
herself sat on the right. And lifting up a certain glistening rod, she
saith to me, "Seest thou a great thing?" I say to her,
"Lady, I see nothing." She saith to me, "Look thou; dost
thou not see in front of thee a great tower being builded upon the waters,
of glistening square stones?"
Hermas 2[10]:5 Now the tower was being
builded foursquare by the six young men that came with her. And countless
other men were bringing stones, some of them from the deep, and others
from the land, and were handing them to the six young men. And they took
them and builded.
Hermas 2[10]:6 The stones that were dragged from the
deep they placed in every case, just as they were, into the building, for
they had been shaped, and they fitted in their joining with the other
stones; and they adhered so closely one with another that their joining
could not possibly be detected; and the building of the tower appeared as
if it were built of one stone.
Hermas 2[10]:7 But of the other stones
which were brought from the dry land, some they threw away, and some they
put into the building; and others they broke in pieces, and threw to a
distance from the tower.
Hermas 2[10]:8 Now many other stones were lying
round the tower, and they did not use them for the building; for some of
them were mildewed, and others had cracks in them, and others were too
short, and others were white and round, and did not fit into the building.
Hermas 2[10]:9 And I saw other stones thrown to a distance from the tower,
and coming to the way, and yet not staying in the way, but rolling to
where there was no way; and others falling into the fire and burning
there; and others falling near the waters, and yet not able to roll into
the water, although they desired to roll and to come to the water.
Hermas
3[11]:1 When she had shown me these things, she wished to hurry away. I
say to her, "Lady, what advantage is it to me to have seen these
things, and yet not to know what the things mean? "She answered and
said unto me, "Thou art an over-curious fellow, in desiring to know
all that concerns the tower." "Yea, lady," I said,
"that I may announce it to my brethren, and that they [may be the
more gladdened and] when they hear [these things] they may know the Lord
in great glory." Then said she,
Hermas 3[11]:2 "Many shall hear;
but when they hear, some of them shall be glad, and others shall weep. Yet
even these latter, if they hear and repent, shall likewise be glad. Hear
thou therefore the parables of the tower; for I will reveal all things
unto thee. And trouble me no more about revelation; for these revelations
have an end, seeing that they have been completed. Nevertheless thou wilt
not cease asking for revelations; for thou art shameless."
Hermas
3[11]:3 The tower, which thou seest building, is myself, the Church, which
was seen of thee both now and aforetime. Ask, therefore, what thou willest
concerning the tower, and I will reveal it unto thee, that thou mayest
rejoice with the saints."
Hermas 3[11]:4 I say unto her, "Lady,
since thou didst hold me worthy once for all, that thou shouldest reveal
all things to me, reveal them." Then she saith to me,
"Whatsoever is possible to be revealed to thee, shall be revealed.
Only let thy heart be with God, and doubt not in thy mind about that which
thou seest."
Hermas 3[11]:5 I asked her, "Wherefore is the tower
builded upon waters, lady?" "I told thee so before," said
she, "and indeed thou dost enquire diligently. So by thy enquiry thou
discoverest the truth. Hear then why the tower is builded upon waters; it
is because your life is saved and shall be saved by water. But the tower
has been founded by the word of the Almighty and Glorious Name, and is
strengthened by the unseen power of the Master."
Hermas 4[12]:1 I
answered and said unto her, "Lady, this thing is great and marvelous.
But the six young men that build, who are they, lady?" "These
are the holy angels of God, that were created first of all, unto whom the
Lord delivered all His creation to increase and to build it, and to be
masters of all creation. By their hands therefore the building of the
tower will be accomplished."
Hermas 4[12]:2 "And who are the
others who are bringing the stones in?" "They also are holy
angels of God; but these six are superior to them. The building of the
tower then shall be accomplished, and all alike shall rejoice in the
(completed) circle of the tower, and shall glorify God that the building
of the tower was accomplished."
Hermas 4[12]:3 I enquired of her,
saying, "Lady, I could wish to know concerning the end of the stones,
and their power, of what kind it is." She answered and said unto me,
"It is not that thou of all men art especially worthy that it should
be revealed to thee; for there are others before thee, and better than
thou art, unto whom these visions ought to have been revealed. But that
the name of God may be glorified, it hath been revealed to thee, all shall
be revealed, for the sake of the doubtful-minded, who question in their
hearts whether these things are so or not. Tell them that all these things
are true, and that there is nothing beside the truth, but that all are
steadfast, and valid, and established on a firm foundation.
Hermas 5[13]:1
"Hear now concerning the stones that go to the building The stones
that are squared and white, and that fit together in their joints, these
are the apostles and bishops and teachers and deacons, who walked after
the holiness of God, and exercised their office of bishop and teacher and
deacon in purity and sanctity for the elect of God, some of them already
fallen on sleep, and others still living. And because they always agreed
with one another, they both had peace among themselves and listened one to
another. Therefore their joinings fit together in the building of the
tower."
Hermas 5[13]:2 "But they that are dragged from the deep,
and placed in the building, and that fit together in their joinings with
the other stones that are already builded in, who are they?"
"These are they that suffered for the name of the Lord."
Hermas
5[13]:3 "But the other stones that are brought from the dry land, I
would fain know who these are, lady." She said, "Those that go
to the building, and yet are not hewn, these the Lord hath approved
because they walked in the uprightness of the Lord, and rightly performed
His commandments."
Hermas 5[13]:4 "But they that are brought and
placed in the building, who are they?" "They are young in the
faith, and faithful; but they are warned by the angels to do good, because
wickedness was found in them."
Hermas 5[13]:5 "But those whom
they rejected and threw away, who are they?" "These have sinned,
and desire to repent, therefore they were not cast to a great distance
from the tower, because they will be useful for the building, if they
repent. They then that shall repent, if they repent, will be strong in the
faith, if they repent now while the tower is building. But if the building
shall be finished, they have no more any place, but shall be castaways.
This privilege only they have, that they lie near the tower.
Hermas
5[13]:1 But wouldst thou know about them that are broken in pieces, and
cast away far from the tower? These are the sons of lawlessness. They
received the faith in hypocrisy, and no wickedness was absent from them.
Therefore they have not salvation, for they are not useful for building by
reason of their wickednesses. Therefore they were broken up and thrown far
away by reason of the wrath of the Lord, for they excited Him to wrath.
Hermas 5[13]:2 But the rest whom thou hast seen lying in great numbers,
not going to the building, of these they that are mildewed are they that
knew the truth, but did not abide in it, nor cleave to the saints.
Therefore they are useless."
Hermas 5[13]:3 "But they that have
the cracks, who are they?" "These are they that have discord in
their hearts against one another, and are not at peace among themselves;
who have an appearance of peace, but when they depart from one another,
their wickednesses abide in their hearts. These are the cracks which the
stones have.
Hermas 5[13]:4 But they that are broken off short, these have
believed, and have their greater part in righteousness, but have some
parts of lawlessness; therefore they are too short, and are not
perfect."
Hermas 5[13]:5 "But the white and round stones, which
did not fit into the building, who are they, lady?" She answered and
said to me, "How long art thou foolish and stupid, and enquirest
everything, and understandest nothing? These are they that have faith, but
have also riches of this world. When tribulation cometh, they deny their
Lord by reason of their riches and their business affairs."
Hermas
5[13]:6 And I answered and said unto her, "When then, lady, will they
be useful for the building?" "When," she replied,
"their wealth, which leadeth their souls astray, shall be cut away,
then will they be useful for God. For just as the round stone, unless it
be cut away, and lose some portion of itself, cannot become square, so
also they that are rich in this world, unless their riches be cut away,
cannot become useful to the Lord.
Hermas 5[13]:7 Learn first from thyself
When thou hadst riches, thou wast useless; but now thou art useful and
profitable unto life. Be ye useful unto God, for thou thyself also art
taken from the same stones.
Hermas 7[15]:1 "But the other stones
which thou sawest cast far away from the tower and falling into the way
and rolling out of the way into the regions where there is no way, these
are they that have believed, but by reason of their double heart they
abandon their true way. Thus thinking that they can find a better way,
they go astray and are sore distressed, as they walk about in the regions
where there is no way.
Hermas 7[15]:2 But they that fall into the fire and
are burned, these are they that finally rebelled from the living God, and
it no more entered into their hearts to repent by reason of the lusts of
their wantonness and of the wickednesses which they wrought.
Hermas
7[15]:3 But the others, which are near the waters and yet cannot roll into
the water, wouldest thou know who are they? These are they that heard the
word, and would be baptized unto the name of the Lord. Then, when they
call to their remembrance the purity of the truth, they change their
minds, and go back again after their evil desires."
Hermas 7[15]:4 So
she finished the explanation of the tower.
Hermas 7[15]:5 Still
importunate, I asked her further, whether for all these stones that were
rejected and would not fit into the building of the tower that was
repentance, and they had a place in this tower. "They can
repent," she said, "but they cannot be fitted into this tower.
Hermas 7[15]:6 Yet they shall be fitted into another place much more
humble, but not until they have undergone torments, and have fulfilled the
days of their sins. And they shall be changed for this reason, because
they participated in the Righteous Word; and then shall it befall them to
be relieved from their torments, if the evil deeds, that they have done,
come into their heart; but if these come not into their heart, they are
not saved by reason of the hardness of their hearts."
Hermas 8[16]:1
When then I ceased asking her concerning all these things, she saith to
me; "Wouldest thou see something else?" Being very desirous of
beholding, I was greatly rejoiced that I should see it.
Hermas 8[16]:2 She
looked upon me, and smiled, and she saith to me, "Seest thou seven
women round the tower?" "I see them, lady," say I.
"This tower is supported by them by commandment of the Lord.
Hermas
8[16]:3 Hear now their employments. The first of them, the woman with the
strong hands, is called Faith; through her are saved the elect of God.
Hermas 8[16]:4 And the second, that is girded about and looketh like a
man, is called Continence; she is the daughter of Faith. Whosoever then
shall follow her, becometh happy in his life, for he shall refrain from
all evil deeds, believing that, if he refrain from every evil desire, he
shall inherit eternal life."
Hermas 8[16]:5 "And the others,
lady, who be they?" "They are daughters one of the other. The
name of the one is Simplicity, of the next, Knowledge, of the next,
Guilelessness, of the next, Reverence, of the next, Love. When then thou
shalt do all the works of their mother, thou canst live."
Hermas
8[16]:6 "I would fain know, lady," I say, "what power each
of them possesseth." "Listen then," saith she, "to the
powers which they have.
Hermas 8[16]:7 Their powers are mastered each by
the other, and they follow each other, in the order in which they were
born. From Faith is born Continence, from Continence Simplicity, from
Simplicity Guilelessness, from Guilelessness Reverence, from Reverence
Knowledge, from Knowledge Love. Their works then are pure and reverent and
divine.
Hermas 8[16]:8 Whosoever therefore shall serve these women, and
shall have strength to master their works, shall have his dwelling in the
tower with the saints of God."
Hermas 8[16]:9 Then I asked her
concerning the seasons, whether the consummation is even now. But she
cried aloud, saying, "Foolish man, seest thou not that the tower is
still a-building? Whensoever therefore the tower shall be finished
building, the end cometh; but it shall be built up quickly. Ask me no more
questions: this reminder is sufficient for you and for the saints, and is
the renewal of your spirits.
Hermas 8[16]:10 But it was not revealed to
thyself alone, but in order that thou mightest show these things unto all.
After three days--
Hermas 8[16]:11 for thou must understand first, and I
charge thee,
Hermas, first with these words, which I am about to speak to
thee--(I charge thee to) tell all these things into the ears of the
saints, that hearing them and doing them they may be purified from their
wickednesses, and thyself also with them."
Hermas 9[17]:1 "Hear
me, my children. I brought you up in much simplicity and guilelessness and
reverence, through the mercy of the Lord, Who instilled righteousness into
you, that ye might be justified and sanctified from all wickedness and all
crookedness. But ye will not to cease from your wickedness.
Hermas 9[17]:2
Now then hear me and be at peace among yourselves, and have regard one to
another, and assist one another, and do not partake of the creatures of
God alone in abundance, but share them also with those that are in want.
Hermas 9[17]:3 For some men through their much eating bring weakness on
the flesh, and injure their flesh: whereas the flesh of those who have
nought to eat is injured by their not having sufficient nourishment, and
their body is ruined.
Hermas 9[17]:4 This exclusiveness therefore is
hurtful to you that have and do not share with them that are in want.
Hermas 9[17]:5 Look ye to the judgment that cometh. Ye then that have more
than enough, seek out them that are hungry, while the tower is still
unfinished; for after the tower is finished, ye will desire to do good,
and will find no place for it.
Hermas 9[17]:6 Look ye therefore, ye that
exult in your wealth, lest they that are in want shall moan, and their
moaning shall go up unto the Lord, and ye with your [abundance of good
things be shut outside the door of the tower.
Hermas 9[17]:7 Now therefore
I say unto you that are rulers of the Church, and that occupy the chief
seats; be not ye like unto the sorcerers. The sorcerers indeed carry their
drugs in boxes, but ye carry your drug and your poison in your heart.
Hermas 9[17]:8 Ye are case-hardened, and ye will not cleanse your hearts
and mix your wisdom together in a clean heart, that ye may obtain mercy
from the Great King.
Hermas 9[17]:9 Look ye therefore, children, lest
these divisions of yours deprive you of your life.
Hermas 9[17]:10 How is
it that ye wish to instruct the elect of the Lord, while ye yourselves
have no instruction? Instruct one another therefore, and have peace among
yourselves, that I also may stand gladsome before the Father, and give an
account concerning you all to your Lord."
Hermas 10[18]:1 When then
she ceased speaking with me, the six young men, who were building, came,
and took her away to the tower, and other four lifted the couch, and took
it also away to the tower. I saw not the face of these, for they were
turned away.
Hermas 10[18]:2 And, as she went, I asked her to reveal to me
concerning the three forms, in which she had appeared to me. She answered
and said to me; "As concerning these things thou must ask another,
that they may be revealed to thee."
Hermas 10[18]:3 Now she was seen
of me, brethren, in my first vision of last year, as a very aged woman and
seated on a chair.
Hermas 10[18]:4 In the second vision her face was
youthful, but her flesh and her hair were aged, and she spake to me
standing; and she was more gladsome than before.
Hermas 10[18]:5 But in
the third vision she was altogether youthful and of exceeding great
beauty, and her hair alone was aged; and she was gladsome exceedingly and
seated on a couch. Touching these things I was very greatly anxious to
learn this revelation.
Hermas 10[18]:6 And I see the aged woman in a
vision of the night, saying to me, "Every enquiry needs humility.
Fast therefore, and thou shalt receive what thou askest from the
Lord."
Hermas 10[18]:7 So I fasted one day; and that very night there
appeared unto me a young man, and he saith to me, "Seeing that thou
askest me revelations offhand with entreaty, take heed lest by thy much
asking thou injure thy flesh.
Hermas 10[18]:8 Sufficient for thee are
these revelations. Canst thou see mightier revelations than those thou
hast seen?"
Hermas 10[18]:9 I say unto him in reply, "Sir, this
one thing alone I ask, concerning the three forms of the aged woman, that
a complete revelation may be vouchsafed me." He saith to me in
answer, How long are ye without understanding? It is your
double-mindedness that maketh you of no understanding, and because your
heart is not set towards the Lord."
Hermas 10[18]:10 I answered and
said unto him again, "From thee, Sir, we shall learn the matters more
accurately."
Hermas 11[19]:1 Listen," saith he, "concerning
the three forms, of which thou enquirest.
Hermas 11[19]:2 In the first
vision wherefore did she appear to thee an aged woman and seated on a
chair? Because your spirit was aged, and already decayed, and had no power
by reason of your infirmities and acts of double-mindedness.
Hermas
11[19]:3 For as aged people, having no longer hope of renewing their
youth, expect nothing else but to fall asleep, so ye also, being weakened
with the affairs of this world gave yourselves over to repining, and cast
not your cares on the Lord; but your spirit was broken, and ye were aged
by your sorrows."
Hermas 11[19]:4 "Wherefore then she was seated
on a chair, I would fain know, Sir." "Because every weak person
sits on a chair by reason of his weakness, that the weakness of his body
may be supported. So thou hast the symbolism of the first vision."
Hermas 12[20]:1 "But in the second vision thou sawest her standing,
and with her countenance more youthful and more gladsome than before; but
her flesh and her hair aged. Listen to this parable also," saith he.
Hermas 12[20]:2 "Imagine an old man, who has now lost all hope of
himself by reason of his weakness and his poverty, and expecteth nothing
else save the last day of his life. Suddenly an inheritance is left him.
He heareth the news, riseth up and full of joy clothes himself with
strength, and no longer lieth down, but standeth up, and his spirit, which
was now broken by reason of his former circumstances, is renewed again,
and he no longer sitteth, but taketh courage; so also was it with you,
when you heard the revelation which the Lord revealed unto you.
Hermas
12[20]:3 For He had compassion on you, and renewed your spirits, and ye
laid aside your maladies, and strength came to you, and ye were made
powerful in the faith, and the Lord rejoiced to see you put on your
strength. And therefore He showed you the building of the tower; yea, and
other things also shall He show you, if with your whole heart ye be at
peace among yourselves.
Hermas 13[21]:1 But in the third vision ye saw her
younger and fair and gladsome, and her form fair.
Hermas 13[21]:2 For just
as when to some mourner cometh some piece of good tidings, immediately he
forgetteth his former sorrows, and admitteth nothing but the tidings which
he hath heard, and is strengthened thenceforth unto that which is good,
and his spirit is renewed by reason of the joy which he hath received; so
also ye have received a renewal of your spirits by seeing these good
things.
Hermas 13[21]:3 And whereas thou sawest her seated on a couch, the
position is a firm on; for the couch has four feet and standeth firmly;
for the world too Is upheld by means of four elements.
Hermas 13[21]:4
They then that have fully repented shall be young again, and founded
firmly, seeing that they have repented with their whole heart. There thou
hast the revelation entire and complete. Thou shalt ask nothing more as
touching revelation-- but if anything be lacking still, it shall be
revealed unto thee."
Hermas 1[22]:heading Vision 4
Hermas 1[22]:1 The
fourth vision which I saw, brethren, twenty days after the former vision
which came unto me, for a type of the impending tribulation.
Hermas
1[22]:2 I was going into the country by the Companion Way. From the high
road, it is about ten stades; and the place is easy for traveling.
Hermas
1[22]:3 While then I am walking alone, I entreat the Lord that He will
accomplish the revelations and the visions which He showed me through His
holy Church, that He may strengthen me and may give repentance to His
servants which have stumbled, that His great and glorious Name may be
glorified, for that He held me worthy that He should show me His marvels.
Hermas 1[22]:4 And as I gave glory and thanksgiving to Him, there answered
me as it were the sound of a voice, "Be not of doubtful mind,
Hermas."
I began to question in myself and to say, "How can I be of doubtful
mind, seeing that I am so firmly founded by the Lord, and have seen
glorious things?"
Hermas 1[22]:5 And I went on a little, brethren,
and behold, I see a cloud of dust rising as it were to heaven, and I began
to say within myself, "Can it be that cattle are coming, and raising
a cloud of dust?" for it was just about a stade from me.
Hermas
1[22]:6 As the cloud of dust waxed greater and greater, I suspected that
it was something supernatural. Then the sun shone out a little, and
behold, I see a huge beast like some sea-monster, and from its mouth fiery
locusts issued forth. And the beast was about a hundred feet in length,
and its head was as it were of pottery.
Hermas 1[22]:7 And I began to
weep, and to entreat the Lord that He would rescue me from it. And I
remembered the word which I had heard, "Be not of doubtful mind,
Hermas."
Hermas 1[22]:8 Having therefore, brethren, put on the faith
of the Lord and called to mind the mighty works that He had taught me, I
took courage and gave myself up to the beast. Now the beast was coming on
with such a rush, that it might have ruined a city.
Hermas 1[22]:9 I come
near it, and, huge monster as it was, it stretcheth itself on the ground,
and merely put forth its tongue, and stirred not at all until I had passed
by it.
Hermas 1[22]:10 And the beast had on its head four colors; black
then fire and blood color, then gold, then white.
Hermas 2[23]:1 Now after
I had passed the beast, and had gone forward about thirty feet, behold,
there meeteth me a virgin arrayed as if she were going forth from a
bridal-chamber all in white and with white sandals, veiled up to her
forehead, and her head-covering consisted of a turban, and her hair was
white.
Hermas 2[23]:2 I knew from the former Visions that it was the
Church, and I became more cheerful. She saluteth me, saying, "Good
morrow, my good man"; and I saluted her in turn, "Lady, good
morrow."
Hermas 2[23]:3 She answered and said unto me, "Did
nothing meet thee? "I say unto her, Lady, such a huge beast, that
could have destroyed whole peoples: but, by the power of the Lord and by
His great mercy, I escaped it."
Hermas 2[23]:4 "Thou didst
escape it well," saith she, "because thou didst cast thy care
upon God, and didst open thy heart to the Lord, believing that thou canst
be saved by nothing else but by His great and glorious Name. Therefore the
Lord sent His angel, which is over the beasts, whose name is Segri, and
<i>shut his mouth that it might not hurt thee</i>. Thou hast
escaped a great tribulation by reason of thy faith, and because, though
thou sawest so huge a beast, thou didst not doubt in thy mind.
Hermas
2[23]:5 Go therefore, and declare to the elect of the Lord His mighty
works, and tell them that this beast is a type of the great tribulation
which is to come. If therefore ye prepare yourselves beforehand, and
repent (and turn) unto the Lord with your whole heart, ye shall be able to
escape it, if your heart be made pure and without blemish, and if for the
remaining days of your life ye serve the Lord blamelessly. Cast your cares
upon the Lord and He will set them straight.
Hermas 2[23]:6 Trust ye in
the Lord, ye men of doubtful mind, for He can do all things, yea, He both
turneth away His wrath from you, and again He sendeth forth His plagues
upon you that are of doubtful mind. Woe to them that hear these words and
are disobedient; it were better for them that they had not been
born."
Hermas 3[24]:1 I asked her concerning the four colors, which
the beast had upon its head. Then she answered me and said, "Again
thou art curious about such matters." "Yes, lady," said I,
"make known unto me what these things are."
Hermas 3[24]:2
"Listen," said she; "the black is this world in which ye
dwell;
Hermas 3[24]:3 and the fire and blood color showeth that this world
must perish by blood and fire;
Hermas 3[24]:4 and the golden part are ye
that has escaped from this world. For as the gold is tested by the fire
and is made useful, so ye also [that dwell in it] are being tested in
yourselves. Ye then that abide and pass through the fire will be purified
by it. For as the old loses its dross. so Ye also shall cast away all
sorrow and tribulation, and shall be purified, and shall be useful for the
building of the tower.
Hermas 3[24]:5 But the white portion is the coming
age, in which the elect of God shall dwell; because the elect of God shall
be without spot and pure unto life eternal.
Hermas 3[24]:6 Wherefore cease
not thou to speak in the ears of the saints. Ye have now the symbolism
also of the tribulation which is coming in power. But if ye be willing, it
shall be nought. Remember ye the things that are written beforehand."
Hermas 3[24]:7 With these words she departed, and I saw not in what
direction she departed; for a noise was made: and I turned back in fear,
thinking that the beast was coming.
Hermas 5[25]:heading Revelation 5
Hermas 5[25]:1 As I prayed in the house, and sat on the couch, there
entered a man glorious in his visage, in the garb of a shepherd, with a
white skin wrapped about him, and with a wallet on his shoulders and a
staff in his hand. And he saluted me, and I saluted him in return.
Hermas
5[25]:2 And he immediately sat down by my side, and he saith unto me,
"I was sent by the most holy angel, that I might dwell with thee the
remaining days of thy life."
Hermas 5[25]:3 I thought he came to
tempt me, and I say unto him, "Why, who art thou? For I know,"
say I, "unto whom I was delivered." He saith to me, "Dost
thou not recognize me?" "No," I say. "I," saith
he, "am the shepherd, unto whom thou wast delivered."
Hermas
5[25]:4 While he was still speaking, his form was changed, and I
recognized him as being the same, to whom I was delivered; and straightway
I was confounded, and fear seized me, and I was altogether overwhelmed
with distress that I had answered him so wickedly and senselessly.
Hermas
5[25]:5 But he answered and said unto me, "Be not confounded, but
strengthen thyself in my commandments which I am about to command thee.
For I was sent," saith he, "that I might show thee again all the
things which thou didst see before, merely the heads which are convenient
for you. First of all, write down my commandments and my parables; and the
other matters thou shalt write down as I shall show them to thee. The
reason why," saith he, "I command thee to write down first the
commandments and parables is, that thou mayest read them off-hand, and
mayest be able to keep them."
Hermas 5[25]:6 So I wrote down the
commandments and parables, as he commanded me.
Hermas 5[25]:7 If then,
when ye hear them, ye keep them and walk in them, and do them with a pure
heart, ye shall receive from the Lord all things that He promised you; but
if, when ye hear them, ye do not repent, but still add to your sins, ye
shall receive from the Lord the opposite. All these the shepherd, the
angel of repentance. commanded me to write.
Hermas 1[26]:heading Mandate 1
Hermas 1[26]:1 "First of all, believe that God is One, even He who
created all things and set them in order, and brought all things from
non-existence into being, Who comprehendeth all things, being alone
incomprehensible.
Hermas 1[26]:2 Believe Him therefore, and fear Him, and
in this fear be continent. Keep these things, and thou shalt cast off all
wickedness from thyself, and shalt clothe thyself with every excellence of
righteousness, and shalt live unto God, if thou keep this
commandment."
Hermas 1[27]:heading Mandate 2
Hermas 1[27]:1 He saith
to me; "Keep simplicity and be guileless, and thou shalt be as little
children, that know not the wickedness which destroyeth the life of men.
Hermas 1[27]:2 First of all, speak evil of no man, neither take pleasure
in listening to a slanderer. Otherwise thou that hearest too shalt be
responsible for the sin of him that speaketh the evil, if thou believest
the slander, which thou hearest; for in believing it thou thyself also
wilt have a grudge against thy brother. So then shalt thou be responsible
for the sin of him that speaketh the evil.
Hermas 1[27]:3 Slander is evil;
it is a restless demon, never at peace, but always having its home among
factions. Refrain from it therefore, and thou shalt have success at all
times with all men.
Hermas 1[27]:4 But clothe thyself in reverence,
wherein is no evil stumbling-block, but all things are smooth and
gladsome. Work that which is good, and of thy labors, which God giveth
thee, give to all that are in want freely, not questioning to whom thou
shalt give, and to whom thou shalt not give. Give to all; for to all God
desireth that there should be given of His own bounties.
Hermas 1[27]:5
They then that receive shall render an account to God why they received
it, and to what end; for they that receive in distress shall not be
judged, but they that receive by false pretence shall pay the penalty.
Hermas 1[27]:6 He then that giveth is guiltless; for as he received from
the Lord the ministration to perform it, he hath performed it in
sincerity, by making no distinction to whom to give or not to give. This
ministration then, when sincerely performed, becomes glorious in the sight
of God. He therefore that ministereth thus sincerely shall live unto God.
Hermas 1[27]:7 Therefore keep this commandment, as I have told thee, that
thine own repentance and that of thy household may be found to be sincere,
and [thy] heart pure and undefiled."
Hermas 1[28]:heading Mandate 3
Hermas 1[28]:1 Again he saith to me; "Love truth, and let nothing but
truth proceed out of thy mouth, that the Spirit which God made to dwell in
this flesh, may be found true in the sight of all men; and thus shall the
Lord, Who dwelleth in thee, be glorified; for the Lord is true in every
word, and with Him there is no falsehood.
Hermas 1[28]:2 They therefore
that speak lies set the Lord at nought, and become robbers of the Lord,
for they do not deliver up to Him the deposit which they received. For
they received of Him a spirit free from lies. This if they shall return a
lying spirit, they have defiled the commandment of the Lord and have
become robbers."
Hermas 1[28]:3 When then I heard these things, I
wept bitterly. But seeing me weep he saith, "Why weepest thou?"
"Because, Sir," say I "I know not if I can be saved."
"Why so?" saith he. "Because, Sir," I say, "never
in my life spake I a true word, but I always lied deceitfully with all men
and dressed up my falsehood as truth before all men; and no man ever
contradicted me, but confidence was placed in my word. How then,
Sir," say I, "can I live, seeing that I have done these
things?"
Hermas 1[28]:4 "Your supposition," he saith,
"is right and true, for it behoved thee as a servant of God to walk
in truth, and no complicity with evil should abide with the Spirit of
truth, nor bring grief to the Spirit which is holy and true."
"Never, Sir," say I, "heard I clearly words such as
these."
Hermas 1[28]:5 "Now then," saith he, "thou
hearest. Guard them, that the former falsehoods also which thou spakest in
thy business affairs may themselves become credible, now that these are
found true; for they too can become trustworthy. If thou keep these
things, and from henceforward speak nothing but truth, thou shalt be able
to secure life for thyself And whosoever shall hear this command, and
abstain from falsehood, that most pernicious habit, shall live unto
God."
Hermas 1[29]:heading Mandate 4
Hermas 1[29]:1 "I charge
thee, "saith he, "to keep purity, and let not a thought enter
into thy heart concerning another's wife, or concerning fornication, or
concerning any such like evil deeds; for in so doing thou commitest a
great sin. But remember thine own wife always, and thou shalt never go
wrong.
Hermas 1[29]:2 For should this desire enter into thine heart, thou
wilt go wrong, and should any other as evil as this, thou commitest sin.
For this desire in a servant of God is a great sin; and if any man doeth
this evil deed, he worketh out death for himself.
Hermas 1[29]:3 Look to
it therefore. Abstain from this desire; for, where holiness dwelleth,
there lawlessness ought not to enter into the heart of a righteous
man."
Hermas 1[29]:4 I say to him, "Sir, permit me to ask thee a
few more questions" "Say on," saith he. "Sir,"
say I, "if a man who has a wife that is faithful in the Lord detect
her in adultery, doth the husband sin in living with her?"
Hermas
1[29]:5 "So long as he is ignorant," saith he, "he sinneth
not; but if the husband know of her sin, and the wife repent not, but
continue in her fornication, and her husband live with her, he makes
himself responsible for her sin and an accomplice in her adultery."
Hermas 1[29]:6 "What then, Sir," say I, "shall the husband
do, if the wife continue in this case?" "Let him divorce
her," saith he, "and let the husband abide alone: but if after
divorcing his wife he shall marry another, he likewise committeth
adultery."
Hermas 1[29]:7 "If then, Sir," say I,
"after the wife is divorced, she repent and desire to return to her
own husband, shall she not be received?"
Hermas 1[29]:8
"Certainly," saith he, "if the husband receiveth her not,
he sinneth and bringeth great sin upon himself; nay, one who hath sinned
and repented must be received, yet not often; for there is but one
repentance for the servants of God. For the sake of her repentance
therefore the husband ought not to marry. This is the manner of acting
enjoined on husband and wife.
Hermas 1[29]:9 Not only," saith he,
"is it adultery, if a man pollute his flesh, but whosoever doeth
things like unto the heathen committeth adultery. If therefore in such
deeds as these likewise a man continue and repent not, keep away from him,
and live not with him. Otherwise, thou also art a partaker of his sin.
Hermas 1[29]:10 For this cause ye were enjoined to remain single, whether
husband or wife; for in such cases repentance is possible.
Hermas 1[29]:11
I," said he, "am not giving an excuse that this matter should be
concluded thus, but to the end that the sinner should sin no more. But as
concerning his former sin, there is One Who is able to give healing; it is
He Who hath authority over all things."
Hermas 2[30]:1 I asked him
again, saying, "Seeing that the Lord held me worthy that thou
shouldest always dwell with me, suffer me still to say a few words, since
I understand nothing, and my heart has been made dense by my former deeds.
Make me to understand, for I am very foolish, and I apprehend absolutely
nothing."
Hermas 2[30]:2 He answered and said unto me, "I,"
saith he, "preside over repentance, and I give understanding to all
who repent. Nay, thinkest thou not," saith he, "that this very
act of repentance is understanding? To repent is great
understanding," saith he. "For the man that hath sinned
understandeth that he hath done evil before the Lord, and the deed which
he hath done entereth into his heart, and he repenteth, and doeth no more
evil, but doeth good lavishly, and humbleth his own soul and putteth it to
torture because it sinned. Thou seest then that repentance is great
understanding."
Hermas 2[30]:3 "It is on this account therefore,
Sir," say I, "that I enquire everything accurately of thee;
first, because I am a sinner; secondly, because I know not what deeds I
must do that I may live, for my sins are many and various."
Hermas
2[30]:4 "Thou shalt live," saith he, "if thou keep my
commandments and walk in them and whosoever shall hear these commandments
and keep them, shall live unto God."
Hermas 3[31]:1 "I will
still proceed, Sir," say I, "to ask a further question."
"Speak on," saith he. "I have heard, Sir," say I,
"from certain teachers, that there is no other repentance, save that
which took place when we rent down into the water and obtained remission
of our former sins."
Hermas 3[31]:2 He saith to me; "Thou hast
well heard; for so it is. For he that hath received remission of sins
ought no longer to sin, but to dwell in purity.
Hermas 3[31]:3 But, since
thou enquirest all things accurately, I will declare unto thee this also,
so as to give no excuse to those who shall hereafter believe or those who
have already believed, on the Lord. For they that have already believed,
or shall hereafter believe, have not repentance for sins, but have only
remission of their former sins.
Hermas 3[31]:4 To those then that were
called before these days the Lord has appointed repentance. For the Lord,
being a discerner of hearts and foreknowing all things, perceived the
weakness of men and the manifold wiles of the devil, how that he will be
doing some mischief to the servants of God, and will deal wickedly with
them.
Hermas 3[31]:5 The Lord then, being very compassionate, had pity on
His handiwork, and appointed this (opportunity of) repentance, and to me
was given the authority over this repentance.
Hermas 3[31]:6 But I say
unto you," saith he, "if after this great and holy calling any
one, being tempted of the devil, shall commit sin, he hath only one
(opportunity of) repentance. But if he sin off-hand and repent, repentance
is unprofitable for such a man; for he shall live with difficulty."
Hermas 3[31]:7 I say unto him, "I was quickened unto life again, when
I heard these things from thee so precisely. For I know that, if I shall
add no more to my sins, I shall be saved." "Thou shalt be
saved," he saith, "thou and all, as many as shall do these
things."
Hermas 4[32]:1 I asked him again, saying, "Sir, since
once thou dost bear with me, declare unto me this further matter
also." "Say on," saith he. "If a wife, Sir," say
I, "or, it may be, a husband fall asleep, and one of them marry, doth
the one that marrieth sin?"
Hermas 4[32]:2 "He sinneth
not," saith he, "but if he remain single, he investeth himself
with more exceeding honor and with great glory before the Lord; yet even
if he should marry, he sinneth not.
Hermas 4[32]:3 Preserve purity and
holiness therefore, and thou shalt live unto God. All these things, which
I speak and shall hereafter speak unto thee, guard from this time forward,
from the day when thou wast committed unto me, and I will dwell in thy
house.
Hermas 4[32]:4 But for thy former transgressions there shall be
remission, if thou keepest my commandments. Yea, and all shall have
remission, if they keep these my commandments, and walk in this
purity."
Hermas 1[33]:heading Mandate 5
Hermas 1[33]:1 "Be thou
long-suffering and understanding," he saith, "and thou shalt
have the mastery over all evil deeds, and shalt work all righteousness.
Hermas 1[33]:2 For if thou art long-suffering, the Holy Spirit that
abideth in thee shall be pure, not being darkened by another evil spirit,
but dwelling in a large room shall rejoice and be glad with the vessel in
which he dwelleth, and shall serve God with much cheerfulness, having
prosperity in himself.
Hermas 1[33]:3 But if any angry temper approach,
forthwith the Holy Spirit, being delicate, is straitened, not having [the]
place clear, and seeketh to retire from the place; for he is being choked
by the evil spirit, and has no room to minister unto the Lord, as he
desireth, being polluted by angry temper. For the Lord dwelleth in
long-suffering, but the devil in angry temper.
Hermas 1[33]:4 Thus that
both the spirits then should be dwelling together is inconvenient and evil
for that man in whom they dwell.
Hermas 1[33]:5 For if you take a little
wormwood, and pour it into a jar of honey, is not the whole of the honey
spoiled, and all that honey ruined by a very small quantity of wormwood?
For it destroyeth the sweetness of the honey, and it no longer hath the
same attraction for the owner, because it is rendered bitter and hath lost
its use. But if the wormwood be not put into the honey, the honey is found
sweet and becomes useful to its owner.
Hermas 1[33]:6 Thou seest [then]
that long-suffering is very sweet, beyond the sweetness of honey, and is
useful to the Lord, and He dwelleth in it. But angry, temper is bitter and
useless. If then angry temper be mixed with long-suffering, long-suffering
is polluted and the man's intercession is no longer useful to God."
Hermas 1[33]:7 "I would fain know, Sir," say I, "the
working of angry temper, that I may guard myself from it." "Yea,
verily," saith he, "if thou guard not thyself from it--thou and
thy family--thou hast lost all thy hope. But guard thyself from it; for I
am with thee. Yea, and all men shall hold aloof from it, as many as have
repented with their whole heart. For I will be with them and will preserve
them; for they all were justified by the most holy angel.
Hermas 2[34]:1
"Hear now," saith he, "the working of angry temper, how
evil it is, and how it subverteth the servants of God by its own working,
and how it leadeth them astray from righteousness. But it doth not lead
astray them that are full in the faith, nor can it work upon them, because
the power of the Lord is with them; but them that are empty and
double-minded it leadeth astray.
Hermas 2[34]:2 For when it seeth such men
in prosperity it insinuates itself into the heart of the man, and for no
cause whatever the man or the woman is embittered on account of worldly
matters, either about meats, or some triviality, or about some friend, or
about giving or receiving, or about follies of this kind. For all these
things are foolish and vain and senseless and inexpedient for the servants
of God.
Hermas 2[34]:3 But long-suffering is great and strong, and has a
mighty and vigorous power, and is prosperous in great enlargement,
gladsome, exultant, free from care, glorifying the Lord at every season,
having no bitterness in itself, remaining always gentle and tranquil. This
long-suffering therefore dwelleth with those whose faith is perfect.
Hermas 2[34]:4 But angry temper is in the first place foolish, fickle and
senseless; then from foolishness is engendered bitterness, and from
bitterness wrath, and from wrath anger, and from anger spite; then spite
being composed of all these evil elements becometh a great sin and
incurable.
Hermas 2[34]:5 For when all these spirits dwell in one vessel,
where the Holy Spirit also dwelleth, that vessel cannot contain them, but
overfloweth.
Hermas 2[34]:6 The delicate spirit therefore, as not being
accustomed to dwell with an evil spirit nor with harshness, departeth from
a man of that kind, and seeketh to dwell with gentleness and tranquillity.
Hermas 2[34]:7 Then, when it hath removed from that man, in whom it
dwells, that man becometh emptied of the righteous spirit, and
henceforward, being filled with the evil spirits, he is unstable in all
his actions, being dragged about hither and thither by the evil spirits,
and is altogether blinded and bereft of his good intent. Thus then it
happeneth to all persons of angry temper.
Hermas 2[34]:8 Refrain therefore
from angry temper, the most evil of evil spirits. But clothe thyself in
long-suffering, and resist angry temper and bitterness, and thou shalt be
round in company with the holiness which is beloved of the Lord. See then
that thou never neglect this commandment; for if thou master this
commandment, thou shalt be able likewise to keep the remaining
commandments, which I am about to give thee. Be strong in them and endowed
with power; and let all be endowed with power, as many as desire to walk
in them."
Hermas 1[35]:heading Mandate 6
Hermas 1[35]:1 I charged
thee," saith he, "in my first commandment to guard faith and
fear and temperance." "Yes, Sir," say I. "But
now," saith he, "I wish to show thee their powers also, that
thou mayest understand what is the power and effect of each one of them.
For their effects are two fold. Now they are prescribed alike to the
righteous and the unrighteous.
Hermas 1[35]:2 Do thou therefore trust
righteousness, but trust not unrighteousness; for the way of righteousness
is straight, but the way of unrighteousness is crooked. But walk thou in
the straight [and level] path, and leave the crooked one alone.
Hermas
1[35]:3 For the crooked way has no tracks, but only pathlessness and many
stumbling stones, and is rough and thorny. So it is therefore harmful to
those who walk in it.
Hermas 1[35]:4 But those who walk in the straight
way walk on the level and without stumbling: for it is neither rough nor
thorny. Thou seest then that it is more expedient to walk in this
way."
Hermas 1[35]:5 "I am pleased, Sir," say I, "to
walk in this way." "Thou shalt walk," he saith, "yea,
and whosoever shall turn unto the Lord with his whole heart shall walk in
it.
Hermas 2[36]:1 "Hear now," saith he, "concerning faith.
There are two angels with a man, one of righteousness and one of
wickedness."
Hermas 2[36]:2 "How then, Sir," say I,
"shall I know their workings, seeing that both angels dwell with
me?"
Hermas 2[36]:3 "Hear," saith he, "and understand
their workings. The angel of righteousness is delicate and bashful and
gentle and tranquil. When then this one enters into thy heart, forthwith
he speaketh with thee of righteousness, of purity, of holiness, and of
contentment, of every righteous deed and of every glorious virtue. When
all these things enter into thy heart, know that the angel of
righteousness is with thee. [These then are the works of the angel of
righteousness.] Trust him therefore and his works.
Hermas 2[36]:4 Now see
the works of the angel of wickedness also. First of all, he is quick
tempered and bitter and senseless, and his works are evil, overthrowing
the servants of God. Whenever then he entereth into thy heart, know him by
his works."
Hermas 2[36]:5 "How I shall discern him, Sir,"
I reply, "I know not." Listen," saith he. "When a fit
of angry temper or bitterness comes upon thee, know that he is in thee.
Then the desire of much business and the costliness of many viands and
drinking bouts and of many drunken fits and of various luxuries which are
unseemly, and the desire of women, and avarice, and haughtiness and
boastfulness, and whatsoever things are akin and like to these--when then
these things enter into thy heart, know that the angel of wickedness is
with thee.
Hermas 2[36]:6 Do thou therefore, recognizing his works, stand
aloof from him, and trust him in nothing, for his works are evil and
inexpedient for the servants of God. Here then thou hast the workings of
both the angels. Understand them, and trust the angel of righteousness.
Hermas 2[36]:7 But from the angel of wickedness stand aloof, for his
teaching is evil in every matter; for though one be a man of faith, and
the desire of this angel enter into his heart, that man, or that woman,
must commit some sin.
Hermas 2[36]:8 And if again a man or a woman be
exceedingly wicked, and the works of the angel of righteousness come into
that man's heart, he must of necessity do something good.
Hermas 2[36]:9
Thou seest then," saith he, "that it is good to follow the angel
of righteousness, and to bid farewell to the angel of wickedness.
Hermas
2[36]:10 This commandment declareth what concerneth faith, that thou
mayest trust the works of the angel of righteousness, and doing them
mayest live unto God. But believe that the works of the angel of
wickedness are difficult; so by not doing them thou shalt live unto
God."
Hermas 1[37]:heading Mandate 7
Hermas 1[37]:1 "Fear the
Lord," saith he, "and keep His commandments. So keeping the
commandments of God thou shalt be powerful in every deed, and thy doing
shall be incomparable. For whilst thou fearest the Lord, thou shalt do all
things well. But this is the fear wherewith thou oughtest to be afraid,
and thou shalt be saved.
Hermas 1[37]:2 But fear not the devil; for, if
thou fear the Lord, thou shalt be master over the devil, for there is no
power in him. [For] in whom is no power, neither is there fear of him; but
in whom power is glorious, of him is fear likewise. For every one that
hath power hath fear, whereas he that hath no power is despised of all.
Hermas 1[37]:3 But fear thou the works of the devil, for they are evil.
While then thou fearest the Lord, thou wilt fear the works of the devil,
and wilt not do them, but abstain from them.
Hermas 1[37]:4 Fear therefore
is of two kinds. If thou desire to do evil, fear the Lord, and thou shalt
not do it. If again thou desire to do good, fear the Lord and thou shalt
do it. Therefore the fear of the Lord is powerful and great and glorious.
Fear the Lord then, and thou shalt live unto Him; yea, and as many of them
that keep His commandments as shall fear Him, shall live unto God."
Hermas 1[37]:5 "Wherefore, Sir," say I, "didst thou say
concerning those that keep His commandments, "They shall live unto
God"?" "Because," saith he, "every creature
feareth the Lord, but not every one keepeth His commandments. Those then
that fear Him and keep His commandments, they have life unto God; but they
that keep not His commandments have no life in them."
Hermas
1[38]:heading Mandate 8
Hermas 1[38]:1 "I told thee," saith he,
"that the creatures of God are twofold; for temperance also is
twofold. For in some things it is right to be temperate, but in other
things it is not right."
Hermas 1[38]:2 "Make known unto me,
Sir," say I, "in what things it is right to be temperate, and in
what things it is not right." "Listen," saith he. "Be
temperate as to what is evil, and do it not; but be not temperate as to
what is good, but do it. For if thou be temperate as to what is good, so
as not to do it, thou committest a great sin; but if thou be temperate as
to what is evil, so as not to do it, thou doest great righteousness. Be
temperate therefore in abstaining from all wickedness, and do that which
is good."
Hermas 1[38]:3 "What kinds of wickedness, Sir,"
say I, "are they from which we must be temperate and abstain?"
"Listen," saith he; "from adultery and fornication, from
the lawlessness of drunkenness, from wicked luxury, from many viands and
the costliness of riches, and vaunting and haughtiness and pride, and from
falsehood and evil speaking and hypocrisy, malice and all blasphemy.
Hermas 1[38]:4 These works are the most wicked of all in the life of men.
From these works therefore the servant of God must be temperate and
abstain; for he that is not temperate so as to abstain from these cannot
live unto God. Listen then to what follows upon these."
Hermas
1[38]:5 "Why, are there still other evil deeds, Sir?" say I.
"Aye, saith he, "there are many, from which the servant of God
must be temperate and abstain; theft, falsehood, deprivation, false
witness, avarice, evil desire, deceit, vain-glory, boastfulness, and
whatsoever things are like unto these.
Hermas 1[38]:6 Thinkest thou not
that these things are wrong, yea, very wrong," [saith he,] "for
the servants of God? In all these things he that serveth God must exercise
temperance. Be thou temperate, therefore, and refrain from all these
things, that thou mayest live unto God, and be enrolled among those who
exercise self-restraint in them. These then are the things from which thou
shouldest restrain thyself
Hermas 1[38]:7 Now hear," saith he,
"the things, in which thou shouldest not exercise self restraint, but
do them. Exercise no self-restraint in that which is good, but do
it."
Hermas 1[38]:8 "Sir," say I, "show me the power
of the good also, that I may walk in them and serve them, that doing them
it may be possible for me to be saved." "Hear," saith he,
"the works of the good likewise, which thou must do, and towards
which thou must exercise no self-restraint.
Hermas 1[38]:9 First of all,
there is faith, fear of the Lord, love, concord, words of righteousness,
truth, patience; nothing is better than these in the life of men. If a man
keep these, and exercise not self-restraint from them, he becomes blessed
in his life.
Hermas 1[38]:10 Hear now what follow upon these; to minister
to widows, to visit the orphans and the needy, to ransom the servants of
God from their afflictions, to be hospitable (for in hospitality
benevolence from time to time has a place), to resist no man, to be
tranquil, to show yourself more submissive than all men, to reverence the
aged, to practice righteousness, to observe brotherly feeling, to endure
injury, to be long-suffering, to bear no grudge, to exhort those who are
sick at soul, not to cast away those that have stumbled from the faith,
but to convert them and to put courage Into them, to reprove sinners, not
to oppress debtors and indigent persons, and whatsoever actions are like
these.
Hermas 1[38]:11 Do these things," saith he, "seem to thee
to be good?" "Why, what, Sir," say I, "can be better
than these?" "Then walk in them," saith he, "and
abstain not from them, and thou shalt live unto God.
Hermas 1[38]:12 Keep
this commandment therefore. If thou do good and abstain not from it, thou
shalt live unto God; yea, and all shall live unto God who act so. And
again if thou do not evil, and abstain from it, thou shalt live unto God;
yea, and all shall live unto God, who shall keep these commandments, and
walk in them."
Hermas 1[39]:heading Mandate 9
Hermas 1[39]:1 He saith
to me; "Remove from thyself a doubtful mind and doubt not at all
whether to ask of God, saying within thyself, "How can I ask thing of
the Lord and receive it, seeing that I have committed so many sins against
Him?"
Hermas 1[39]:2 Reason not thus, but turn to the Lord with thy
whole heart, and ask of Him nothing wavering, and thou shalt know His
exceeding compassion, that He will surely not abandon thee, but will
fulfill the petition of thy soul.
Hermas 1[39]:3 For God is not as men who
bear a grudge, but Himself is without malice and hath compassion on His
creatures.
Hermas 1[39]:4 Do thou therefore cleanse thy heart from all the
vanities of this life, and from the things mentioned before; and ask of
the Lord, and thou shalt receive all things, and shalt lack nothing of all
thy petitions, if thou ask of the Lord nothing wavering.
Hermas 1[39]:5
But if thou waver in thy heart, thou shalt surely receive none of thy
petitions. For they that waver towards God, these are the doubtful-minded,
and they never obtain any of their petitions.
Hermas 1[39]:6 But they that
are complete in the faith make all their petitions trusting in the Lord,
and they receive, because they ask without wavering, nothing doubting; for
every doubtful-minded man, if he repent not, shall hardly be saved.
Hermas
1[39]:7 Cleanse therefore thy heart from doubtful-mindedness, and put on
faith, for it is strong, and trust God that thou wilt receive all thy
petitions which thou askest; and if after asking anything of the Lord,
thou receive thy petition somewhat tardily, be not of doubtful mind
because thou didst not receive the petition of thy soul at once. For
assuredly it is by reason of some temptation or some transgression, of
which thou art ignorant, that thou receivest thy petition so tardily.
Hermas 1[39]:8 Do thou therefore cease not to make thy soul's petition,
and thou shalt receive it. But if thou grow weary, and doubt as thou
askest, blame thyself and not Him that giveth unto thee. See to this
doubtful-mindedness; for it is evil and senseless, and uprooteth many from
the faith, yea, even very faithful and strong men. For indeed this
doubtful-mindedness is a daughter of the devil, and worketh great
wickedness against the servants of God.
Hermas 1[39]:9 Therefore despise
doubtful-mindedness and gain the mastery over it in everything, clothing
thyself with faith which is strong and powerful. For faith promiseth all
things, accomplisheth all things; but doubtful-mindedness, as having no
confidence in itself, fails in all the works which it doeth.
Hermas
1[39]:10 Thou seest then," saith he, "that faith is from above
from the Lord, and hath great power; but doubtful-mindedness is an earthly
spirit from the devil, and hath no power.
Hermas 1[39]:11 Do thou
therefore serve that faith which hath power, and hold aloof from the
doubtful-mindedness which hath no power; and thou shalt live unto God;
yea, and all those shall live unto God who are so minded."
Hermas
1[40]:heading Mandate 10
Hermas 1[40]:1 "Put away sorrow from
thyself," saith he, "for she is the sister of
doubtful-mindedness and of angry temper."
Hermas 1[40]:2 "How,
Sir," say I, "is she the sister of these? For angry temper seems
to me to be one thing, doubtful-mindedness another, sorrow another."
"Thou art a foolish fellow," saith he, "[and] perceivest
not that sorrow is more evil than all the spirits, and is most fatal to
the servants of God, and beyond all the spirits destroys a man, and
crushes out the Holy Spirit and yet again saves it."
Hermas 1[40]:3
"I, Sir," say I, "am without understanding, and I
understand not these parables. For how it can crush out and again save, I
do not comprehend."
Hermas 1[40]:4 "Listen," saith he.
"Those who have never investigated concerning the truth, nor enquired
concerning the deity, but have merely believed, and have been mixed up in
business affairs and riches and heathen friendships, and many other
affairs of this world--as many, I say, as devote themselves to these
things, comprehend not the parables of the deity; for they are darkened by
these actions, and are corrupted and become barren.
Hermas 1[40]:5 As good
vineyards, when they are treated with neglect, are made barren by the
thorns and weeds of various kinds, so men who after they have believed
fall into these many occupations which were mentioned before, lose their
understanding and comprehend nothing at all concerning righteousness; for
if they hear concerning the deity and truth, their mind is absorbed in
their occupations, and they perceive nothing at all.
Hermas 1[40]:6 But
they that have the fear of God, and investigate concerning deity and
truth, and direct their heart towards the Lord, perceive and understand
everything that is said to them more quickly, because they have the fear
of the Lord in themselves; for where the Lord dwelleth, there too is great
understanding. Cleave therefore unto the Lord, and thou shalt understand
and perceive all things.
Hermas 2[41]:1 "Hear now, senseless
man," saith he, "How sorrow crusheth out the Holy Spirit, and
again saveth it.
Hermas 2[41]:2 When the man of doubtful mind sets his
hand to any action, and fails in it owing to his doubtful-mindedness,
grief at this entereth into the man, and grieveth the Holy Spirit, and
crusheth it out.
Hermas 2[41]:3 Then again when angry temper cleaveth to a
man concerning any matter, and he is much embittered, again sorrow
entereth into the heart of the man that was ill-tempered, and he is
grieved at the deed which he hath done, and repenteth that he did evil.
Hermas 2[41]:4 This sadness therefore seemeth to bring salvation, because
he repented at having done the evil. So both the operations sadden the
Spirit; first, the doubtful mind saddens the Spirit, because it succeeded
not in its business, and the angry temper again, because it did what was
evil. Thus both are saddening to the Holy Spirit, the doubtful mind and
the angry temper.
Hermas 2[41]:5 Put away therefore from thyself sadness,
and afflict not the Holy Spirit that dwelleth in thee, lest haply He
intercede with God [against thee], and depart from thee.
Hermas 2[41]:6
For the Spirit of God, that was given unto this flesh, endureth not
sadness neither constraint.
Hermas 3[42]:1 "Therefore clothe thyself
in cheerfulness, which hath favor with Cod always, and is acceptable to
Him, and rejoice in it. For every cheerful man worketh good, and thinketh
good, and despiseth sadness;
Hermas 3[42]:2 but the sad man is always
committing sin. In the first place he committeth sin, because he grieveth
the Holy Spirit, which was given to the man being a cheerful spirit; and
in the second place, by grieving the Holy Spirit he doeth lawlessness, in
that he doth not intercede with neither confess unto God. For the
intercession of a sad man hath never at any time power to ascend to the
altar of God."
Hermas 3[42]:3 "Wherefore," say I,
"doth not the intercession of him that is saddened ascend to the
altar?" "Because," saith he, "sadness is seated at his
heart. Thus sadness mingled with the intercession doth not suffer the
intercession to ascend pure to the altar. For as vinegar when mingled with
wine in the same (vessel) hath not the same pleasant taste, so likewise
sadness mingled with the Holy Spirit hath not the same intercession.
Hermas 3[42]:4 Therefore cleanse thyself from this wicked sadness, and
thou shalt live unto God; yea, and all they shall live unto God, who shall
cast away sadness from themselves and clothe themselves in all
cheerfulness."
Hermas 1[43]:heading Mandate 11
Hermas 1[43]:1 He
shewed me men seated on a couch, and another man seated on a chair. And he
saith to me, "Seest thou those that are seated on the couch?"
"I see them, Sir," say I. "These," saith he, "are
faithful, but he that sitteth on the chair is a false prophet who
destroyeth the mind of the servants of God--I mean, of the
doubtful-minded, not of the faithful.
Hermas 1[43]:2 These doubtful-minded
ones then come to him as to a soothsayer and enquire of him what shall
befall them. And he, the false prophet, having no power of a divine Spirit
in himself, speaketh with them according to their enquiries [and according
to the lusts of their wickedness], and filleth their souls as they
themselves wish.
Hermas 1[43]:3 For being empty himself he giveth empty
answers to empty enquirers; for what-ever enquiry may be made of him, he
answereth according to the emptiness of the man. But he speaketh also some
true words; for the devil filleth him with his own spirit, if so be he
shall be able to break down some of the righteous.
Hermas 1[43]:4 So many
therefore as are strong in the faith of the Lord, clothed with the truth,
cleave not to such spirits, but hold aloof from them; but as many as are
doubters and frequently change their minds, practice soothsaying like the
Gentiles, and bring upon themselves greater sin by their idolatries. For
he that consulteth a false prophet on any matter is an idolater and
emptied of the truth, and senseless.
Hermas 1[43]:5 For no Spirit given of
God needeth to be consulted; but, having the power of deity, speaketh all
things of itself, because it is from above, even from the power of the
divine Spirit.
Hermas 1[43]:6 But the spirit which is consulted, and
speaketh according to the desires of men, is earthly and fickle, having no
power; and it speaketh not at all, unless it be consulted."
Hermas
1[43]:7 "How then, Sir," say I, "shall a man know who of
them is a prophet, and who a false prophet?" "Hear," saith
he, "concerning both the prophets; and, as I shall tell thee, so
shalt thou test the prophet and the false prophet. By his life test the
man that hath the divine Spirit.
Hermas 1[43]:8 In the first place, he
that hath the [divine] Spirit, which is from above, is gentle and tranquil
and humble-minded, and abstaineth from all wickedness and vain desire of
this present world, and holdeth himself inferior to all men, and giveth no
answer to any man when enquired of, nor speaketh in solitude (for neither
doth the Holy Spirit speak when a man wisheth Him to speak); but the man
speaketh then when God wisheth him to speak.
Hermas 1[43]:9 When then the
man who hath the divine Spirit cometh into an assembly of righteous men,
who have faith in a divine Spirit, and intercession is made to God by the
gathering of those men, then the angel of the prophetic spirit, who is
attached to him, filleth the man, and the man, being filled with the Holy
Spirit, speaketh to the multitude, according as the Lord willeth.
Hermas
1[43]:10 In this way then the Spirit of the deity shall be manifest. This
then is the greatness of the power as touching the Spirit of the deity of
the Lord.
Hermas 1[43]:11 Hear now," saith he, "concerning the
earthly and vain spirit, which hath no power but is foolish.
Hermas
1[43]:12 In the first place, that man who seemeth to have a spirit
exalteth himself, and desireth to have a chief place, and straight-way he
is impudent and shameless and talkative and conversant in many luxuries
and in many other deceits and receiveth money for his prophesying, and if
he receiveth not, he prophesieth not. Now can a divine Spirit receive
money and prophesy? It is not possible for a prophet of God to do this,
but the spirit of such prophets is earthly.
Hermas 1[43]:13 In the next
place, it never approacheth an assembly of righteous men; but avoideth
them, and cleaveth to the doubtful-minded and empty, and prophesieth to
them in corners, and deceiveth them, speaking all things in emptiness to
gratify their desires; for they too are empty whom it answereth. For the
empty vessel placed together with the empty is not broken, but they agree
one with the other.
Hermas 1[43]:14 But when he comes into an assembly
full of righteous men who have a Spirit of deity, and intercession is made
from them, that man is emptied, and the earthly spirit fleeth from him in
fear, and that man is struck dumb and is altogether broken in pieces,
being unable to utter a word.
Hermas 1[43]:15 For, if you pack wine or oil
into a closet, and place an empty vessel among them, and again desire to
unpack the closet, the vessel which you place there empty, empty in like
manner you will find it. Thus also the empty prophets, whenever they come
unto the spirits of righteous men, are found just such as they came.
Hermas 1[43]:16 I have given thee the life of both kinds of prophets.
Therefore test, by his life and his works, the man who says that he is
moved by the Spirit.
Hermas 1[43]:17 But do thou trust the Spirit that
cometh from God, and hath power; but in the earthly and empty spirit put
no trust at all; for in it there is no power, for it cometh from the
devil.
Hermas 1[43]:18 Listen [then] to the parable which I shall tell
thee. Take a stone, and throw it up to heaven--see if thou canst reach it;
or again, take a squirt of water, and squirt it up to heaven--see if thou
canst bore through the heaven."
Hermas 1[43]:19 "How, Sir,"
say I, "can these things be? For both these things which thou hast
mentioned are beyond our power." "Well then," saith he,
"just as these things are beyond our power, so likewise the earthly
spirits have no power and are feeble.
Hermas 1[43]:20 Now take the power
which cometh from above. The hail is a very, small grain, and yet, when it
falleth on a man's head, what pain it causeth! Or again, take a drop which
falls on the ground from the tiles, and bores through the stone.
Hermas
1[43]:21 Thou seest then that the smallest things from above falling on
the earth have great power. So likewise the divine Spirit coming from
above is powerful. This Spirit therefore trust, but from the other hold
aloof."
Hermas 1[44]:heading Mandate 12
Hermas 1[44]:1 He saith to
me; "Remove from thyself all evil desire, and clothe thyself in the
desire which is good and holy; for clothed with this desire thou shalt
hate the evil desire, and shalt bridle and direct it as thou wilt.
Hermas
1[44]:2 For the evil desire is wild, and only tamed with difficulty; for
it is terrible, and by its wildness is very costly to men; more especially
if a servant of God get entangled in it, and have no understanding, he is
put to fearful costs by it. But it is costly to such men as are not
clothed in the good desire, but are mixed up with this life "These
men then it hands over to death."
Hermas 1[44]:3 "Of what sort,
Sir," say I, "are the works of the evil desire, which hand over
men to death? Make them known to me, that I may hold aloof from
them." Listen," [saith he,] "through what works the evil
desire bringeth death to the servants of God.
Hermas 2[45]:1 "Before
all is desire for the wife or husband of another, and for extravagance of
wealth, and for many needless dainties, and for drinks and other luxuries,
many and foolish. For even luxury is foolish and vain for the servants of
God.
Hermas 2[45]:2 These desires then are evil, and bring death to the
servants of God. For this evil desire is a daughter of the devil. Ye must,
therefore, abstain from the evil desires, that so abstaining ye may live
unto God.
Hermas 2[45]:3 But as many as are mastered by them, and resist
them not, are done to death utterly; for these desires are deadly.
Hermas
2[45]:4 But do thou clothe thyself in the desire of righteousness, and,
having armed thyself with the fear of the Lord, resist them. For the fear
of God dwelleth in the good desire. If the evil desire shall see thee
armed with the fear of God and resisting itself, it shall flee far from
thee, and shall no more be seen of thee, being in fear of thine arms.
Hermas 2[45]:5 Do thou therefore, when thou art crowned for thy victory
over it, come to the desire of righteousness, and deliver to her the
victor's prize which thou hast received, and serve her, according as she
herself desireth. If thou serve the good desire, and art subject to her,
thou shalt have power to master the evil desire, and to subject her,
according as thou wilt."
Hermas 3[46]:1 "I would fain know,
Sir," say I, "in what ways I ought to serve the good
desire." "Listen," saith he; "practice righteousness
and virtue, truth and the fear of the Lord, faith and gentleness, and as
many good deeds as are like these. Practicing these thou shalt be
well-pleasing as a servant of God, and shalt live unto Him; yea, and every
one who shall serve the good desire shall live unto God."
Hermas
3[46]:2 So he completed the twelve commandments, and he saith to me; Thou
hast these commandments; walk in them, and exhort thy hearers that their
repentance may become pure for the rest of the days of their life.
Hermas
3[46]:3 This ministration, which I give thee, fulfill thou with all
diligence to the end, and thou shalt effect much. For thou shalt find
favor among those who are about to repent, and they shall obey thy words.
For I will be with thee, and will compel them to obey thee."
Hermas
3[46]:4 I say to him; "Sir, these commandments are great and
beautiful and glorious, and are able <i>to gladden the heart of</i>
the <i>man</i> who is able to observe them. But I know not
whether these commandments can be kept by a man, for they are very
hard."
Hermas 3[46]:5 He answered and said unto me; "If thou set
it before thyself that they can be kept, thou wilt easily keep them, and
they will not be hard; but if it once enter into thy heart that they
cannot be kept by a man, thou wilt not keep them.
Hermas 3[46]:6 But now I
say unto thee; if thou keep them not. but neglect them thou shalt not have
salvation, neither thy children nor thy household, since thou hast already
pronounced judgment against thyself that these commandments cannot be kept
by a man."
Hermas 4[47]:1 And these things he said to me very
angrily, so that I was confounded, and feared him exceedingly; for his
form was changed, so that a man could not endure his anger.
Hermas 4[47]:2
And when he saw that I was altogether disturbed and confounded, he began
to speak more kindly [and cheerfully] to me, and he saith; "Foolish
fellow, void of understanding and of doubtful mind, perceivest thou not
the glory of God, how great and mighty and marvelous it is, how that He
created the world for man's sake, and subjected all His creation to man,
and gave all authority to him, that he should be master over all things
under the heaven?
Hermas 4[47]:3 If then," [he saith,] "man is
lord of all the creatures of God and mastereth all things, cannot he also
master these commandments Aye," saith he, "the man that hath the
Lord in his heart can master [all things and] all these commandments.
Hermas 4[47]:4 But they that have the Lord on their lips, while their
heart is hardened, and are far from the Lord, to them these commandments
are hard and inaccessible.
Hermas 4[47]:5 Therefore do ye, who are empty
and fickle in the faith, set your Lord in your heart, and ye shall
perceive that nothing is easier than these commandments, nor sweeter, nor
more gentle.
Hermas 4[47]:6 Be ye converted, ye that walk after the
commandments of the devil, (the commandments which are so) difficult and
bitter and wild and riotous; and fear not the devil, for there is no power
in him against you.
Hermas 4[47]:7 For I will be with you, I, the angel of
repentance, who have the mastery over him. The devil hath fear alone, but
his fear hath no force. Fear him not therefore; and he will flee from
you."
Hermas 5[48]:1 I say to him, "Sir, listen to a few words
from me." "Say what thou wilt," saith he. "Man,
Sir," I say, "is eager to keep the commandments of God, and
there is no one that asketh not of the Lord that he may be strengthened in
His commandments, and be subject to them; but the devil is hard and
overmastereth them."
Hermas 5[48]:2 "He cannot," saith he,
"overmaster the servants of God, who set their hope on Him with their
whole heart. The devil can wrestle with them, but he cannot overthrow
them. If then ye resist him, he will be vanquished and will flee from you
disgraced. But as many," saith he, "as are utterly empty, fear
the devil as if he had power.
Hermas 5[48]:3 When a man has filled amply
sufficient jars with good wine, and among these jars a few are quite
empty, he comes to the jars, and does not examine the full ones, for he
knows that they are full; but he examineth the empty ones, fearing lest
they have turned sour. For empty jars soon turn sour, and the taste of the
wine is spoilt.
Hermas 5[48]:4 So also the devil cometh to all the
servants of God tempting them. As many then as are complete in the faith,
oppose him mightily, and he departeth from them, not having a place where
he can find an entrance. So he cometh next to the empty ones, and finding
a place goeth into them, and further he doeth what he willeth in them, and
they become submissive slaves to him.
Hermas 6[49]:1 "But I, the
angel of repentance, say unto you; Fear not the devil; for I was
sent," saith he, "to be with you who repent with your whole
heart, and to strengthen you in the faith.
Hermas 6[49]:2 Believe,
therefore, on God, ye who by reason of your sins have despaired of your
life, and are adding to your sins, and weighing down your life; for if ye
turn unto the Lord with your whole heart, and work righteousness the
remaining days of your life, and serve Him rightly according to His will,
He will give healing to your former sins, and ye shall have power to
master the works of the devil. But of the threatening of the devil fear
not at all; for he is unstrung, like the sinews of a dead man.
Hermas
6[49]:3 Hear me therefore, and fear Him, <i>Who is able</i> to
do all things, <i>to save and to destroy</i>, and observe
these commandments, and ye shall live unto God."
Hermas 6[49]:4 I say
to him, "Sir, now am I strengthened in all the ordinances of the
Lord, because thou art with me; and I know that thou wilt crush all the
power of the devil, and we shall be masters over him, and shall prevail
over all his works. And I hope, Sir, that I am now able to keep these
commandments which thou hast commanded, the Lord enabling me."
Hermas
6[49]:5 "Thou shalt keep them," saith he, "if thy heart be
found pure with the Lord; yea, and all shall keep them, as many as shall
purify their hearts from the vain desires of this world, and shall live
unto God."
Hermas 1[50]:heading Parables Which He Spake With Me
Hermas 1[50]:1 He saith to me; "Ye know that ye, who are the servants
of God, are dwelling in a foreign land; for your city is far from this
city. If then ye know your city, in which ye shall dwell, why do ye here
prepare fields and expensive displays and buildings and dwelling-chambers
which are superfluous?
Hermas 1[50]:2 He, therefore, that prepareth these
things for this city does not purpose to return to his own city.
Hermas
1[50]:3 O foolish and double-minded and miserable man, perceivest thou not
that all these things are foreign, and are under the power of another For
the lord of this city shall say, "I do not wish thee to dwell in my
city; go forth from this city, for thou dost not conform to my laws."
Hermas 1[50]:4 Thou, therefor who hast fields and dwellings and many other
possessions, when thou art cast out by him, what wilt thou do with thy
field and thy house am all the other things that thou preparedst for
thyself? For the lord of this country saith to thee justly, "Either
conform to my laws, or depart from my country."
Hermas 1[50]:5 What
then shalt thou do, who art under law in thine own city? For the sake of
thy fields and the rest of thy possessions wilt thou altogether repudiate
thy law, and walk according to the law of this city? Take heed, lest it be
inexpedient to repudiate the law; for if thou shouldest desire to return
again to thy city, thou shall surely not be received [because thou didst
repudiate the law of the city], and shalt be shut out from it.
Hermas
1[50]:6 Take heed therefore; as dwelling in a strange land prepare nothing
more for thyself but a competency which is sufficient for thee, and make
ready that, whensoever the master of this city may desire to cast thee out
for thine opposition to his law, thou mayest go forth from his city and
depart into thine own city and use thine own law joyfully, free from all
insult.
Hermas 1[50]:7 Take heed therefore, ye that serve God and have Him
in your heart: work the "works of God being mindful of His
commandments and of the promises which He made, and believe Him that He
will perform them, if His commandments be kept.
Hermas 1[50]:8 Therefore,
instead of fields buy ye souls that are in trouble, as each is able, and
visit widows and orphans, and neglect them not; and spend your riches and
all your displays, which ye received from God, on fields and houses of
this kind.
Hermas 1[50]:9 For to this end the Master enriched you, that ye
might perform these ministrations for Him. It is much better to purchase
fields [and possessions] and houses of this kind, which thou wilt find in
thine own city, when thou visitest it.
Hermas 1[50]:10 This lavish
expenditure is beautiful and joyous, not bringing sadness or fear, but
bringing joy. The expenditure of the heathen then practice not ye; for it
is not convenient for you the servants of God.
Hermas 1[50]:11 But
practice your own expenditure, in which ye can rejoice; and do not
corrupt, neither touch that which is another man's, nor lust after it for
it is wicked to lust after other men's possessions. But perform thine own
task, and thou shalt be saved."
Hermas 1[51]:heading Another Parable
Hermas 1[51]:1 As I walked in the field, and noticed an elm and a vine,
and was distinguishing them and their fruits, the shepherd appeareth to me
and saith; "What art thou meditating within thyself?" "I am
thinking, [Sir,]" say I, "about the elm and the vine, that they
are excellently suited the one to the other."
Hermas 1[51]:2
"These two trees," saith he, "are appointed for a type to
the servants of God." "I would fain know, [Sir,]" say I,
"the type contained in these trees, of which thou speakest."
"Seest thou," saith he, "the elm and the vine ?"
"I see them, Sir," say I.
Hermas 1[51]:3 "This vine,"
saith he, "beareth fruit, but the elm is an unfruitful stock. Yet
this vine, except it climb up the elm, cannot bear much fruit when it is
spread on the ground; and such fruit as it beareth is rotten, because it
is not suspended upon the elm. When then the vine is attached to the elm,
it beareth fruit both from itself and from the elm.
Hermas 1[51]:4 Thou
seest then that the elm also beareth [much] fruit, not less than the vine,
but rather more." How more, Sir?" say I. "Because,"
saith he, "the vine, when hanging upon the elm, bears its fruit in
abundance, and in good condition; but, when spread on the ground, it
beareth little fruit, and that rotten. This parable therefore is
applicable to the servants of God, to poor and to rich alike."
Hermas
1[51]:5 "How, Sir?" say I; "instruct me."
"Listen," saith he; the rich man hath much wealth, but in the
things of the Lord he is poor, being distracted about his riches, and his
confession and intercession with the Lord is very scanty; and even that
which he giveth is mall and weak and hath not power above. When then the
rich man goeth up to the poor, and assisteth him in his needs, believing
that for what he doth to the poor man he shall be able to obtain a reward
with God--because the poor man is rich in intercession [and confession],
and his intercession hath great power with God--the rich man then
supplieth all things to the poor man without wavering.
Hermas 1[51]:6 But
the poor man being supplied by the rich maketh intercession for him,
thanking God for him that gave to him. And the other is still more zealous
to assist the poor man, that he may be continuous in his life: for he
knoweth that the intercession of the poor man is acceptable and rich
before God.
Hermas 1[51]:7 They both then accomplish their work; the poor
man maketh intercession, wherein he is rich [which he received of the
Lord]; this he rendereth again to the Lord Who supplieth him with it. The
rich man too in like manner furnisheth to the poor man, nothing doubting,
the riches which he received from the Lord. And this work great and
acceptable with God, because (the rich man) hath understanding concerning
his riches, and worketh for the poor man from the bounties of the Lord,
and accomplisheth the ministration of the Lord rightly.
Hermas 1[51]:8 In
the sight of men then the elm seemeth not to bear fruit, and they know
not, neither perceive, that if there cometh a drought the elm having water
nurtureth the vine, and the vine having a constant supply of water beareth
fruit two fold, both for itself and for the elm. So likewise the poor, by
interceding with the Lord for the rich, establish their riches, and again
the rich, supplying their needs to the poor, establish their souls.
Hermas
1[51]:9 So then both are made partners in the righteous work. He then that
doeth these things shall not be abandoned of God, but shall be written in
the books of the living.
Hermas 1[51]:10 Blessed are the rich, who
understand also that they are enriched from the Lord. For they that have
this mind shall be able to do some good work."
Hermas 1[52]:heading
Another Parable
Hermas 1[52]:1 He showed me many trees which had no
leaves, but they seemed to me to be, as it were, withered; for they were
all alike. And he saith to me; "Seest thou these trees?" "I
see them, Sir," I say, "they are all alike, and are
withered." He answered and said to me; "These trees that thou
seest are they that dwell in this world."
Hermas 1[52]:2
"Wherefore then, Sir," say I, "are they as if they were
withered, and alike?" "Because," saith he, "neither
the righteous are distinguishable, nor the sinners in this world, but they
are alike. For this world is winter to the righteous, and they are not
distinguishable, as they dwell with the sinners.
Hermas 1[52]:3 For as in
the winter the trees, having shed their leaves, are alike, and are not
distinguishable, which are withered, and which alive, so also in this
world neither the just nor the sinners are distinguishable, but they are
all alike."
Hermas 1[53]:heading Another Parable
Hermas 1[53]:1 He
showed me many trees again, some of them sprouting, and others withered,
and he saith to me; "Seest thou," saith he, "these
trees?" "I see them, Sir," say I, "some of them
sprouting, and others withered."
Hermas 1[53]:2 "These
trees," saith he, "that are sprouting are the righteous, who
shall dwell in the world to come; for the world to come is summer to the
righteous, but winter to the sinners. When then the mercy of the Lord
shall shine forth, then they that serve God shall be made manifest; yea,
and all men shall be made manifest.
Hermas 1[53]:3 For as in summer the
fruits of each several tree are made manifest, and are recognized of what
sort they are, so also the fruits of the righteous shall be manifest, and
all [even the very smallest] shall be known to be flourishing in that
world.
Hermas 1[53]:4 But the Gentiles and the sinners, just as thou
sawest the trees which were withered, even such shall they be found,
withered and unfruitful in that world, and shall be burnt up as fuel, and
shall be manifest, because their practice in their life hath been evil.
For the sinners shall be burned, because they sinned and repented not; and
the Gentiles shall be burned, because they knew not Him that created them.
Hermas 1[53]:5 Do thou therefore bear fruit, that in that summer thy fruit
may be known. But abstain from overmuch business, and thou shalt never
fill into any sin. For they that busy themselves overmuch, sin much also,
being distracted about their business, and in no wise serving their own
Lord.
Hermas 1[53]:6 How then," saith he, "can such a man ask
anything of the Lord and receive it, seeing that he serveth not the Lord?
[For] they that serve Him, these shall receive their petitions, but they
that serve not the Lord, these shall receive nothing.
Hermas 1[53]:7 But
if any one work one single action, he is able also to serve the Lord; for
his mind shall not be corrupted from (following) the Lord, but he shall
serve Him, because he keepeth his mind pure.
Hermas 1[53]:8 If therefore
thou doest these things, thou shalt be able to bear fruit unto the world
to come; yea, and whosoever shall do these things, shall bear fruit."
Hermas 1[54]:1 Another Parable
Hermas 1[54]:1 As I was fasting and seated
on a certain mountain, and giving thanks to the Lord for all that He had
done unto me, I see the shepherd seated by me and saying; "Why hast
thou come hither in the early morn?" "Because, Sir," say I,
"I am keeping a station."
Hermas 1[54]:2 "What," saith
he, "is a station?" "I am fasting, Sir," say I.
"And what," saith he, "is this fast [that ye are
fasting]?" "As I was accustomed, Sir," say I, "so I
fast."
Hermas 1[54]:3 "Ye know not," saith he, "how to
fast unto the Lord, neither is this a fast, this unprofitable fast which
ye make unto Him." "wherefore, Sir," say I, "sayest
thou this?" "I tell thee," saith he, "that this is not
a fast, wherein ye think to fast; but I will teach thee what is a complete
fast and acceptable to the Lord. Listen," saith he;
Hermas 1[54]:4
"God desireth not such a vain fast; for by so fasting unto God thou
shalt do nothing for righteousness. But fast thou [unto God] such a fast
as this;
Hermas 1[54]:5 do no wickedness in thy life, and serve the Lord
with a pure heart; observe His commandments and walk in His ordinances,
and let no evil desire rise up in thy heart; but believe God. Then, if
thou shalt do these things, and fear Him, and control thyself from every
evil deed, thou shalt live unto God; and if thou do these things, thou
shalt accomplish a great fast, and one acceptable to God.
Hermas 2[55]:1
"Hear the parable which I shall tell thee relating to fasting.
Hermas
2[55]:2 A certain man had an estate, and many slaves, and a portion of his
estate he planted as a vineyard; and choosing out a certain slave who was
trusty and well-pleasing (and) held in honor, he called him to him and
saith unto him; "Take this vineyard [which I have planted], and fence
it [till I come], but do nothing else to the vineyard. Now keep this my
commandment, and thou shalt be free in my house." Then the master of
the servant went away to travel abroad.
Hermas 2[55]:3 When then he had
gone away, the servant took and fenced the vineyard; and having finished
the fencing of the vineyard, he noticed that the vineyard was full of
weeds.
Hermas 2[55]:4 So he reasoned within himself, saying, "This
command of my lord I have carried out I will next dig this vineyard, and
it shall be neater when it is digged; and when it hath no weeds it will
yield more fruit, because not choked by the weeds." He took and
digged the vineyard, and all the weeds that were in the vineyard he
plucked up. And that vineyard became very neat and flourishing, when it
had no weeds to choke it.
Hermas 2[55]:5 After a time the master of the
servant [and of the estate] came, and he went into the vineyard. And
seeing the vineyard fenced neatly, and digged as well, and [all] the weeds
plucked up, and the vines flourishing, he rejoiced [exceedingly] at what
his servant had done.
Hermas 2[55]:6 So he called his beloved son, who was
his heir, and the friends who were his advisers, and told them what he had
commanded his servant, and how much he had found done. And they rejoiced
with the servant at the testimony which his master had borne to him.
Hermas 2[55]:7 And he saith to them; "I promised this servant his
freedom, if he should keep the commandment which I commanded him; but he
kept my commandment and did a good work besides to my vineyard, and
pleased me greatly. For this work therefore which he has done, I desire to
make him joint-heir with my son, because, when the good thought struck
him, he did not neglect it, but fulfilled it."
Hermas 2[55]:8 In this
purpose the son of the master agreed with him, that the servant should be
made joint-heir with the son.
Hermas 2[55]:9 After some few days, his
master made a feast, and sent to him many dainties from the feast. But
when the servant received [the dainties sent to him by the master], he
took what was sufficient for him, and distributed the rest to his fellow
servants.
Hermas 2[55]:10 And his fellow-servants, when they received the
dainties, rejoiced, and began to pray for him, that he might find greater
favor with the master, because he had treated them so handsomely.
Hermas
2[55]:11 All these things which had taken place his master heard, and
again rejoiced greatly at his deed. So the master called together again
his friends and his son, and announced to them the deed that he had done
with regard to his dainties which he had received; and they still more
approved of his resolve, that his servant should be made joint-heir with
his son."
Hermas 3[56]:1 I say, "Sir, I understand not these
parables, neither can I apprehend them, unless thou explain them for
me."
Hermas 3[56]:2 "I will explain everything to thee,"
saith he; "and will show thee whatsoever things I shall speak with
thee. Keep the commandments of the Lord, and thou shalt be well-pleasing
to God, and shalt be enrolled among the number of them that keep His
commandments.
Hermas 3[56]:3 But if thou do any good thing outside the
commandment of God, thou shalt win for thyself more exceeding glory, and
shalt be more glorious in the sight of God than thou wouldest otherwise
have been. If then, while thou keepest the commandments of God, thou add
these services likewise, thou shalt rejoice, if thou observe them
according to my commandment."
Hermas 3[56]:4 I say to him, "Sir,
whatsoever thou commandest me, I will keep it; for I know that thou art
with me." "I will be with thee," saith he, "because
thou hast so great zeal for doing good; yea, and I will be with all,"
saith he, "whosoever have such zeal as this.
Hermas 3[56]:5 This
fasting," saith he, "if the commandments of the Lord are kept,
is very good. This then is the way, that thou shalt keep this fast which
thou art about to observe].
Hermas 3[56]:6 First of all, keep thyself from
every evil word and every evil desire, and purify thy heart from all the
vanities of this world. If thou keep these things, this fast shall be
perfect for thee.
Hermas 3[56]:7 And thus shalt thou do. Having fulfilled
what is written, on that day on which thou fastest thou shalt taste
nothing but bread and water; and from thy meats, which thou wouldest have
eaten, thou shalt reckon up the amount of that day's expenditure, which
thou wouldest have incurred, and shalt give it to a widow, or an orphan,
or to one in want, and so shalt thou humble thy soul, that he that hath
received from thy humiliation may satisfy his own soul, and may pray for
thee to the Lord.
Hermas 3[56]:8 If then thou shalt so accomplish this
fast, as I have commanded thee, thy sacrifice shall be acceptable in the
sight of God, and this fasting shall be recorded; and the service so
performed is beautiful and joyous and acceptable to the Lord.
Hermas
3[56]:9 These things thou shalt so observe, thou and thy children and thy
whole household; and, observing them, thou shalt be blessed; yea, and all
those, who shall hear and observe them, shall be blessed, and whatsoever
things they shall ask of the Lord, they shall receive."
Hermas
4[57]:1 I entreated him earnestly, that he would show me the parable of
the estate, and of the master, and of the vineyard, and of the servant
that fenced the vineyard, [and of the fence,] and of the weeds which were
plucked up out of the vineyard, and of the son, and of the friends, the
advisers. For I understood that all these things are a parable.
Hermas
4[57]:2 But he answered and said unto me; "Thou art exceedingly
importunate in enquiries. Thou oughtest not," [saith he,] "to
make any enquiry at all; for if it be right that a thing be explained unto
thee, it shall be explained." I say to him; "Sir, whatsoever
things thou showest unto me and dost not explain, I shall have seen them
in vain, and without understanding what they are. In like manner also, if
thou speak parables to me and interpret them not, I shall have heard a
thing in vain from thee."
Hermas 4[57]:3 But he again answered, and
said unto me; "Whosoever," saith he, "is a servant of God,
and hath his own Lord in his heart, asketh understanding of Him, and
receiveth it, and interpreteth every parable, and the words of the Lord
which are spoken in parables are made known unto him. But as many as are
sluggish and idle in intercession, these hesitate to ask of the Lord.
Hermas 4[57]:4 But the Lord is abundant in compassion, and giveth to them
that ask of Him without ceasing. But thou who hast been strengthened by
the holy angel, and hast received from him such (powers of intercession
and art not idle, wherefore dost thou not ask understanding of the Lord,
and obtain it from Him)."
Hermas 4[57]:5 I say to him, "Sir, I
that have thee with me have (but) need to ask thee and enquire of thee;
for thou showest me all things, and speakest with me; but if I had seen or
heard them apart from thee I should have asked of the Lord, that they
might be shown to me."
Hermas 5[58]:1 "I told thee just
now," saith he, "that thou art unscrupulous and importunate, in
enquiring for the interpretations of the parables. But since thou art so
obstinate, I will interpret to thee the parable of the estate and all the
accompaniments thereof, that thou mayest make them known unto all. Hear
now," saith he, "and understand them.
Hermas 5[58]:2 The estate
is this world, and the lord of the estate is He that created all things,
and set them in order, and endowed them with power; and the servant is the
Son of God, and the vines are this people whom He Himself planted;
Hermas
5[58]:3 and the fences are the [holy] angels of the Lord who keep together
His people; and the weeds, which are plucked up from the vineyard, are the
transgressions of the servants of God; and the dainties which He sent to
him from the feast are the commandments which He gave to His people
through His Son; and the friends and advisers are the holy angels which
were first created; and the absence of the master is the time which
remaineth over until His coming."
Hermas 5[58]:4 I say to him;
"Sir, great and marvelous are all things and all things are glorious;
was it likely then," say I, "that I could have apprehended
them?" "Nay, nor can any other man, though he be full of
understanding, apprehend them." "Yet again, Sir," say I,
"explain to me what I am about to enquire of thee."
Hermas
5[58]:5 "Say on," he saith, "if thou desirest
anything." "Wherefore, Sir,]" say I, "is the Son of
God represented in the parable in the guise of a servant?"
Hermas
6[59]:1 "Listen," said he; "the Son of God is not
represented in the guise of a servant, but is represented in great power
and lordship." "How, Sir?" say I; "I comprehend
not."
Hermas 6[59]:2 "Because," saith he, "God planted
the vineyard, that is, He created the people, and delivered them over to
His Son. And the Son placed the angels in charge of them, to watch over
them; and the Son Himself cleansed their sins, by laboring much and
enduring many toils; for no one can dig without toil or labor.
Hermas
6[59]:3 Having Himself then cleansed the sins of His people, He showed
them the paths of life, giving them the law which He received from His
Father. Thou seest," saith he, "that He is Himself Lord of the
people, having received all power from His Father.
Hermas 6[59]:4 But how
that the lord took his son and the glorious angels as advisers concerning
the inheritance of the servant, listen.
Hermas 6[59]:5 The Holy
Pre-existent Spirit. Which created the whole creation, God made to dwell
in flesh that He desired. This flesh, therefore, in which the Holy Spirit
dwelt, was subject unto the Spirit, walking honorably in holiness and
purity, without in any way defiling the Spirit.
Hermas 6[59]:6 When then
it had lived honorably in chastity, and had labored with the Spirit, and
had cooperated with it in everything, behaving itself boldly and bravely,
He chose it as a partner with the Holy Spirit; for the career of this
flesh pleased [the Lord], seeing that, as possessing the Holy Spirit, it
was not defiled upon the earth.
Hermas 6[59]:7 He therefore took the son
as adviser and the glorious angels also, that this flesh too, having
served the Spirit unblamably, might have some place of sojourn, and might
not seem to hare lost the reward for its service; for all flesh, which is
found undefiled and unspotted, wherein the Holy Spirit dwelt, shall
receive a reward.
Hermas 6[59]:8 Now thou hast the interpretation of this
parable also."
Hermas 7[60]:1 "I was right glad, Sir," say
I, "to hear this interpretation." "Listen now," saith
he, "Keep this thy flesh pure and undefiled, that the Spirit which
dwelleth in it may bear witness to it, and thy flesh may be justified.
Hermas 7[60]:2 See that it never enter into thine heart that this flesh of
thine is perishable, and so thou abuse it in some defilement. [For] if
thou defile thy flesh, thou shalt defile the Holy Spirit also; but if thou
defile the flesh, thou shalt not live."
Hermas 7[60]:3 "But if,
Sir," say I, "there has been any ignorance in times past, before
these words were heard, how shall a man who has defiled his flesh be
saved?" "For the former deeds of ignorance," saith he,
"God alone hath power to give healing; for all authority is His.
Hermas 7[60]:4 [But now keep thyself, and the Lord Almighty, Who is full
of compassion, will give healing for thy former deeds of ignorance,] if
henceforth thou defile not thy flesh, neither the Spirit; for both share
in common, and the one cannot be defiled without the other. Therefore keep
both pure, and thou shalt live unto God."
Hermas 1[61]:heading
Parable 6
Hermas 1[61]:1 As I sat in my house, and glorified the Lord for
all things that I had seen, and was considering concerning the
commandments, how that they were beautiful and powerful and gladsome and
glorious and able to save a man's soul, I said within myself;
"Blessed shall I be, if I walk in these commandments; yea, and
whosoever shall walk in them shall be blessed."
Hermas 1[61]:2 As I
spake these things within myself, I see him suddenly seated by me, and
saying as follows; "Why art thou of a doubtful mind concerning the
commandments, which I commanded thee? They are beautiful. Doubt not at
all; but clothe thyself in the faith of the Lord, and thou shalt walk in
them. For I will strengthen thee in them.
Hermas 1[61]:3 These
commandments are suitable for those who meditate repentance; for if they
walk not in them, their repentance is in vain.
Hermas 1[61]:4 Ye then that
repent, cast away the evil doings of this world which crush you; and, by
putting on every excellence of righteousness, ye shall be able to observe
these commandments, and to add no more to your sins. If then ye add no
further sin at all, ye will depart from your former sins. Walk then in
these my commandments, and ye shall live unto God. These things have [all]
been told you from me."
Hermas 1[61]:5 And after he had told these
things to me, he saith to me, "Let us go into the country, and I will
show thee the shepherds of the sheep." "Let us go, Sir,"
say I. And we came to a certain plain, and he showeth me a young man, a
shepherd, clothed in a light cloak, of saffron color;
Hermas 1[61]:6 and
he was feeding a great number of sheep, and these sheep were, as it were,
well fed and very frisky, and were gladsome as they skipped about hither
and thither; and the shepherd himself was all gladsome over his flock; and
the very visage of the shepherd was exceedingly gladsome; and he ran about
among the sheep.
Hermas 2[62]:1 And he saith to me; "Seest thou this
shepherd?" "I see him Sir," I say. "This," saith
he, "is the angel of self-indulgence and of deceit. He crusheth the
souls of the servants of God, and perverteth them from the truth, leading
them astray with evil desires, wherein they perish.
Hermas 2[62]:2 For
they forget the commandments of the living God, and walk in vain deceits
and acts of self-indulgence, and are destroyed by this angel, some of them
unto death, and others unto corruption."
Hermas 2[62]:3 I say to him,
"Sir, I comprehend not what means "unto death," and what
"unto corruption". "Listen," saith he; "the sheep
which thou sawest gladsome and skipping about, these are they who have
been turned asunder from God utterly, and have delivered themselves over
to the lusts of this world. In these, therefore, there is not repentance
unto life. For the Name of God is being blasphemed through them. The life
of such persons is death.
Hermas 2[62]:4 But the sheep, which thou sawest
not skipping about, but feeding in one place, these are they that have
delivered themselves over to acts of self-indulgence and deceit, but have
not uttered any blasphemy against the Lord. These then have been corrupted
from the truth. In these there is hope of repentance, wherein they can
live. Corruption then hath hope of a possible renewal, but death hath
eternal destruction."
Hermas 2[62]:5 Again we went forward a little
way, and he showeth me a great shepherd like a wild man in appearance,
with a white goatskin thrown about him; and he had a kind of wallet on his
shoulders, and a staff very hard and with knots in it, and a great whip.
And his look was very sour, so that I was afraid of him because of his
look.
Hermas 2[62]:6 This shepherd then kept receiving from the young man,
the shepherd, those sheep that were frisky and well fed, but not skipping
about, and putting them in a certain spot, which was precipitous and
covered with thorns and briars, so that the sheep could not disentangle
themselves from the thorns and briars, but [became entangled among the
thorns and briars.
Hermas 2[62]:7 And so they] pastured entangled in the
thorns and briars, and were in great misery with being beaten by him; and
he kept driving them about to and fro, and giving them no rest, and all
together those sheep had not a happy time.
Hermas 3[63]:1 When then I saw
them so lashed with the whip and vexed, I was sorry for their sakes,
because they were so tortured and had no rest at all.
Hermas 3[63]:2 I say
to the shepherd who was speaking with me; "Sir, who is this shepherd,
who is [so] hard-hearted and severe, and has no compassion at all for
these sheep?" "This," saith he, "is the angel of
punishment, and he is one of the just angels, and presides over
punishment.
Hermas 3[63]:3 So he receiveth those who wander away from God,
and walk after the lusts and deceits of this life, and punisheth them, as
they deserve, with fearful and various punishments."
Hermas 3[63]:4
"I would fain learn, Sir," said I, "of what sort are these
various punishments." "Listen," saith he; "the various
tortures and punishments are tortures belonging to the present life; for
some are punished with losses, and others with want, and others with
divers maladies, and others with [every kind] of unsettlement, and others
with insults from unworthy persons and with suffering in many other
respects.
Hermas 3[63]:5 For many, being unsettled in their plans, set
their hands to many things, and nothing ever goes forward with them. And
then they say that they do not prosper in their doings, and it doth not
enter into their hearts that they have done evil deeds, but they blame the
Lord.
Hermas 3[63]:6 When then they are afflicted with every kind of
affliction, then they are delivered over to me for good instruction, and
are strengthened in the faith of the Lord, and serve the Lord with a pure
heart the remaining days of their life. But, if they repent, the evil
works which they have done rise up in their hearts, and then they glorify
God, saying that He is a just Judge, and that they suffered justly each
according to his doings. And they serve the Lord thenceforward with a pure
heart, and are prosperous in all their doings, receiving from the Lord
whatsoever things they may ask; and then they glorify the Lord because
they were delivered over unto me, and they no longer suffer any evil
thing."
Hermas 3[63]:1 I say unto him; "Sir, declare unto me
this further matter." "What enquirest thou yet?" saith he.
"Whether, Sir," say I, "they that live in self-indulgence
and are deceived undergo torments during the same length of time as they
live in self-indulgence and are deceived." He saith to me, "They
undergo torments for the same length of time."
Hermas 3[63]:2
"Then, Sir," say I, "they undergo very slight torments; for
those who are living thus in self-indulgence and forget God ought to have
been tormented seven-fold."
Hermas 3[63]:3 He saith to me, "Thou
art foolish, and comprehendest not the power of the torment"
"True," say I, "for if I had comprehended it, I should not
have asked thee to declare it to me." "Listen," saith he,
"to the power of both, [of the self-indulgence and of the torment].
Hermas 3[63]:4 The time of the self-indulgence and deceit is one hour. But
an hour of the torment hath the power of thirty days. If then one live in
self indulgence and be deceived for one day, and be tormented for one day,
the day of the torment is equivalent to a whole year. For as many days
then as a man lives in self-indulgence, for so many years is he tormented.
Thou seest then," saith he, "that the time of the
self-indulgence and deceit is very short, but the time of the punishment
and torment is long."
Hermas 5[65]:1 "Inasmuch, Sir," say
I, "as I do not quite comprehend concerning the time of the deceit
and self-indulgence and torment, show me more clearly."
Hermas
5[65]:2 He answered and said unto me; "Thy stupidity cleaveth to
thee; and thou wilt not cleanse thy heart and serve God Take heed," [saith
he,] "lest haply the time be fulfilled, and thou be found in thy
foolishness. Listen then," [saith he,] "even as thou wishest,
that thou mayest comprehend the matter.
Hermas 5[65]:3 He that liveth in
self-indulgence and is deceived for one day, and doeth what he wisheth, is
clothed in much folly and comprehendeth not the thing which he doeth; for
on the morrow he forgetteth what he did the day before. For
self-indulgence and deceit have no memories, by reason of the folly,
wherewith each is clothed; but when punishment and torment cling to a man
for a single day, he is punished and tormented for a whole year long; for
punishment and torment have long memories.
Hermas 5[65]:4 So being
tormented and punished for the whole year, the man remembers at length the
self-indulgence and deceit, and perceiveth that it is on their account
that he is suffering these ills. Every man, therefore, that liveth in
self-indulgence and is deceived, is tormented in this way because, though
possessing lire, they have delivered themselves over unto death."
Hermas 5[65]:5 "What kinds of self-indulgence, Sir," say I,
"are harmful?" "Every action," saith he, "is
self-indulgence to a man, which he does with pleasure; for the irascible
man, when he gives the reins to his passion, is self-indulgent; and the
adulterer and the drunkard and the slanderer and the liar and the miser
and the defrauder and he that doeth things akin to these, giveth the reins
to his peculiar passion; therefore he is self-indulgent in his action.
Hermas 5[65]:6 All these habits of self-indulgence are harmful to the
servants of God; on account of these deceits therefore they so suffer who
are punished and tormented.
Hermas 5[65]:7 But there are habits of
self-indulgence like-wise which save men; for many are self-indulgent in
doing good, being carried away by the pleasure it gives to themselves.
This self-indulgence then is expedient for the servants of God, and
bringeth life to a man of this disposition; but the harmful
self-indulgences afore-mentioned bring to men torments and punishments;
and if they continue in them and repent not, they bring death upon
themselves."
Hermas 1[66]:heading Parable 7
Hermas 1[66]:1 After a
few days I saw him on the same plain, where also I had seen the shepherds,
and he saith to me, "What seekest thou?" "I am here,
Sir," say I, "that thou mayest bid the shepherd that punisheth
go out of my house; for he afflicteth me much." "It is necessary
for thee," saith he, "to be afflicted; for so," saith he,
"the glorious angel ordered as concerning thee, for he wisheth thee
to be proved." "Why, what so evil thing have I done, Sir,"
say I, "that I should be delivered over to this angel?"
Hermas
1[66]:2 "Listen," saith he. "Thy sins are many, yet not so
many that thou shouldest be delivered over to this angel; but thy house
has committed great iniquities and sins, and the glorious angel was
embittered at their deeds, and for this cause he bade thee be afflicted
for a certain time, that they also might repent and cleanse themselves
from every lust of this world. When therefore they shall repent and be
cleansed, then shall the angel of punishment depart."
Hermas 1[66]:3
I say to him; "Sir, if they perpetrated such deeds that the glorious
angel is embittered, what have I done?" "They cannot be
afflicted otherwise," saith he, "unless thou, the head of the
[whole] house, be afflicted; for if thou be afflicted, they also of
necessity will be afflicted; but if thou be prosperous, they can suffer no
affliction."
Hermas 1[66]:4 "But behold, Sir," say I,
"they have repented with their whole heart." "I am quite
aware myself," saith he, "that they have repented with their
whole heart; well, thinkest thou that the sins of those who repent are
forgiven forthwith? Certainly not; but the person who repents must torture
his own soul, and must be thoroughly humble in his every action, and be
afflicted with all the divers kinds of affliction; and if he endure the
afflictions which come upon him, assuredly He Who created all things and
endowed them with power will be moved with compassion and will bestow some
remedy.
Hermas 1[66]:5 And this (will God do), if in any way He perceive
the heart of the penitent pure from every evil thing. But it is expedient
for thee and for thy house that thou shouldest be afflicted now. But why
speak I many words to thee? Thou must be afflicted as the angel of the
Lord commanded, even he that delivered thee unto me; and for this give
thanks to the Lord, in that He deemed thee worthy that I should reveal
unto thee beforehand the affliction, that foreknowing it thou might endure
it with fortitude."
Hermas 1[66]:6 I say to him; "Sir, be thou
with me, and I shall be able to endure all affliction [easily]."
"I will be with thee," saith he; "and I will ask the angel
that punisheth to afflict thee more lightly; but thou shalt be afflicted
for a short time, and thou shalt be restored again to thy house. Only
continue to be humble and to minister unto the Lord with a pure heart,
thou and thy children and thy house, and walk in my commandments which I
command thee, and thus it will be possible for thy repentance to be strong
and pure.
Hermas 1[66]:7 And if thou keep these commandments with thy
household, all affliction shall hold aloof from thee; yea, and
affliction," saith he, "shall hold aloof from all whosoever
shall walk in these my commandments."
Hermas 1[67]:heading Parable 8
Hermas 1[67]:1 He showed me a [great] willow, overshadowing plains and
mountains, and under the shadow of the willow all have come who are called
by the name of the Lord.
Hermas 1[67]:2 And by the willow there stood an
angel of the Lord, glorious and very tall, having a great sickle, and he
was lopping branches from the willow, and giving them to the people that
sheltered beneath the willow; and he gave them little rods about a cubit
long.
Hermas 1[67]:3 And after all had taken the rods, the angel laid
aside the sickle, and the tree was sound, just as I had seen it.
Hermas
1[67]:4 Then I marvelled within myself, saying, "How is the tree
sound after so many branches have been lopped off?" The shepherd
saith to me, "Marvel not that the tree remained sound, after so many
branches were lopped off but wait until thou seest all things, and it
shall be shown to thee what it is."
Hermas 1[67]:5 The angel who gave
the rods to the people demanded them back from them again, and according
as they had received them, so also they were summoned to him, and each of
them returned the several rods. But the angel of the Lord took them, and
examined them.
Hermas 1[67]:6 From some he received the rods withered and
eaten as it were by grubs: the angel ordered those who gave up rods like
these to stand apart.
Hermas 1[67]:7 And others gave them up withered, but
not grub-eaten; and these again he ordered to stand apart.
Hermas 1[67]:8
And others gave them up half-withered; these also stood apart.
Hermas
1[67]:9 And others gave up their rods half-withered and with cracks; these
also stood apart.
Hermas 1[67]:10 And others gave up their rods green and
with cracks; these also stood apart. And others gave up their rods one
half withered and one half green; these also stood apart.
Hermas 1[67]:11
And others brought their rods two parts of the rod green, and the third
part withered; these also stood apart. And others gave them up two parts
withered, and the third part green; these also stood apart.
Hermas
1[67]:12 And others gave up their rods nearly all green, but a very small
portion of their rods was withered, just the end; but they had cracks in
them; these also stood apart.
Hermas 1[67]:13 And in those of others there
was a very small portion green, but the rest of the rods was withered;
these also stood apart.
Hermas 1[67]:14 And others came bringing their
rods green, as they received them from the angel; and the most part of the
multitude gave up their rods in this state; and the angel rejoiced
exceedingly at these; these also stood apart.
Hermas 1[67]:15 And others
gave up their rods green and with shoots, these also stood apart; and at
these again the angel rejoiced exceedingly.
Hermas 1[67]:16 And others
gave up their rods green and with shoots; and their shoots had, as it
were, a kind of fruit. And those men were exceeding gladsome, whose rods
were found in this state. And over them the angel exulted, and the
shepherd was very gladsome over them.
Hermas 2[68]:1 And the angel of the
Lord commanded crowns to be brought. And crowns were brought, made as it
were of palm branches; and he crowned the men that had given up the rods
which had the shoots and some fruit, and sent them away into the tower.
Hermas 2[68]:2 And the others also he sent into the tower, even those who
had given up the rods green and with shoots, but the shoots were without
fruit; and he set a seal upon them.
Hermas 2[68]:3 And all they that went
into the tower had the same raiment, white as snow.
Hermas 2[68]:4 And
those that had given up their rods green as they received them, he sent
away, giving them a [white] robe, and seals.
Hermas 2[68]:5 After the
angel had finished these things, he saith to the shepherd; "I go
away; but these thou shalt send away to (their places within) the walls,
according as each deserveth to dwell; but examine their rods carefully),
and so send them away. But be careful in examining them. Take heed lest
any escape thee," saith he. "Still if any escape thee, I will
test them at the altar." When he had thus spoken to the shepherd, he
departed.
Hermas 2[68]:6 And, after the angel had departed, the shepherd
saith to me; "Let us take the rods of all and plant them, to see
whether any of them shall be able to live." I say unto him,
"Sir, these withered things, how can they live?"
Hermas 2[68]:7
He answered and said unto me; "This tree is a willow, and this class
of trees clingeth to life. If then the rods shall be planted and get a
little moisture, many of them will live. And afterwards let us try to pour
some water also over them. If any of them shall be able to live, I will
rejoice with it; but if it live not, I at least shall not be found
neglectful."
Hermas 2[68]:8 So the shepherd bade me call them, just
as each one of them was stationed. And they came row after row, and they
delivered up the rods to the shepherd. And the shepherd took the rods, and
planted them in rows, and after he had planted them, he poured much water
over them, so that the rods could not be seen for the water.
Hermas
2[68]:9 And after he had watered the rods, he saith to me; "Let us go
now. and after days let us return and inspect all the rods; for He Who
created this tree willeth that all those who have received rods from this
tree should live. And I myself hope that these little rods, after they
have got moisture and been watered, will live the greater part of
them."
Hermas 3[69]:1 I say to him; "Sir, inform me what this
tree is. For I am perplexed herewith, because, though so many branches
were cut off, the tree is sound, and nothing appears to have been cut from
it; I am therefore perplexed thereat."
Hermas 3[69]:2
"Listen," saith he; "this great tree which overshadows
plains and mountains and all the earth is the law of God which was given
to the whole world; and this law is the Son of Cod preached unto the ends
of the earth. But the people that are under the shadow are they that have
heard the preaching, and believed on Him;
Hermas 3[69]:3 but the great and
glorious angel is Michael, who hath the power over this people and is
their captain. For this is he that putteth the law into the hearts of the
believers; therefore he himself inspecteth them to whom he gave it, to see
whether they have observed it.
Hermas 3[69]:4 But thou seest the rods of
every one; for the rods are the law. Thou seest these many rods rendered
useless, and thou shalt notice all those that have not observed the law,
and shalt see the abode of each severally."
Hermas 3[69]:5 I say unto
him; "Sir, wherefore did he send away some into the tower, and leave
others for thee?" "As many," saith he, "as
transgressed the law which they received from him, these he left under my
authority for repentance; but as many as already satisfied the law and
have observed it, these he has under his own authority."
Hermas
3[69]:6 "Who then, Sir," say I, "are they that have been
crowned and go into the tower?" ["As many," saith he,
"as wrestled with the devil and overcame him in their wrestling, are
crowned:] these are they that suffered for the law.
Hermas 3[69]:7 But the
others, who likewise gave up their rods green and with shoots, though not
with fruit, are they that were persecuted for the law, but did not suffer
nor yet deny their law.
Hermas 3[69]:8 But they that gave them up green
just as they received them, are sober and righteous men, who walked
altogether in a pure heart and have kept the commandments of the Lord. But
all else thou shalt know, when I have examined these rods that have been
planted and watered."
Hermas 4[70]:1 And after a few days we came to
the place, and the shepherd sat down in the place of the angel, while I
stood by him. And he saith to me; "Gird thyself with a garment of raw
flax, and minister to me." So I girded myself with a clean garment of
raw flax made of coarse material.
Hermas 4[70]:2 And when he saw me girded
and ready to minister to him "Call," saith he, "the men
whose rods have been planted, according to the rank as each presented
their rods." And I went away to the plain, and called them all; and
they stood all of them according to their ranks.
Hermas 4[70]:3 He saith
to them; "Let each man pluck out his own rod, and bring it to
me." Those gave them up first, who had the withered and chipped rods,
and they were found accordingly withered and chipped. He ordered them to
stand apart.
Hermas 4[70]:4 Then those gave them up, who had the withered
but not chipped; and some of them gave up the rods green, and others
withered and chipped as by grubs. Those then that gave them up green he
ordered to stand apart; but those that gave them up withered and chipped
he ordered to stand with the first.
Hermas 4[70]:5 Then those gave them up
who had the half-withered and with cracks; and many of them gave them up
green and without cracks; and some gave them up green and with shoots, and
fruits on the shoots, such as those had who went into the tower crowned;
and some gave them up withered and eaten, and some withered and uneaten,
and some such as they were, half-withered and with cracks. He ordered them
to stand each one apart, some in their proper ranks, and others apart.
Hermas 5[71]:1 Then those gave them up who had their rods green, but with
cracks. These all gave them up green, and stood in their own company. And
the shepherd rejoiced over these, because they all were changed and had
put away their cracks.
Hermas 5[71]:2 And those gave them up likewise who
had the one half green and the other half withered. The rods of some were
found entirely green, of some half-withered, of some withered and eaten,
and of some green and with shoots. These were all sent away each to his
company.
Hermas 5[71]:3 Then those gave them up who had two parts green
and the third withered; many of them gave them up green, and many
half-withered, and others withered and eaten. These all stood in their own
company.
Hermas 5[71]:4 Then those gave them up who had two parts withered
and the third part green. Many of them gave them up half-withered, but
some withered and eaten, others half-withered and with cracks, and a few
green. These all stood in their own company.
Hermas 5[71]:5 Then those
gave them up who had their rods green, but a very small part [withered]
and with cracks. Of these some gave them up green, and others green and
with shoots. These also went away to their own company.
Hermas 5[71]:6
Then those gave them up who had a very small part green and the other
parts withered. The rods of these were found for the most part green and
with shoots and fruit on the shoots, and others altogether green. At these
rods the shepherd rejoiced very [greatly], because they were found so. And
these went away each to his own company.
Hermas 6[72]:1 After [the
shepherd] had examined the rods of all, he saith to me, "I told thee
that this tree clingeth to life. Seest thou," saith he, "how
many repented and were saved?" "I see, Sir," say I.
"It is," saith he, that thou mayest see the abundant compassion
of the Lord, how great and glorious it is, and He hath given (His) Spirit
to those that are worthy of repentance."
Hermas 6[72]:2
"Wherefore then, Sir," say I, "did they not all
repent?" "To those, whose heart He saw about to become pure and
to serve Him with all the heart, to them He gave repentance; but those
whose craftiness and wickedness He saw, who intend to repent in hypocrisy,
to them He gave not repentance, lest haply they should again profane His
name."
Hermas 6[72]:3 I say unto him, "Sir, now then show me
concerning those that have given up their rods, what manner of man each of
them is, and their abode, that when they hear this, they that believed and
have received the seal and have broken it and did not keep it sound may
fully understand what they are doing, and repent, receiving from thee a
seal, and may glorify the Lord, that He had compassion upon them and sent
thee to renew their spirits."
Hermas 6[72]:4 "Listen,"
saith he; "those whose rods were found withered and grub-eaten, these
are the renegades and traitors to the Church, that blasphemed the Lord in
their sins, and still further were ashamed of the Name of the Lord, which
was invoked upon them. These then perished altogether unto God. But thou
seest how not one of them repented, although they heard the words which
thou spakest to them, which I commanded thee. From men of this kind life
departed.
Hermas 6[72]:5 But those that gave up the _withered_ and
undecayed (rods), these also are near them; for they were hypocrites, and
brought in strange doctrines, and perverted the servants of God,
especially them that had sinned, not permitting them to repent, but
persuading them with their foolish doctrines. These then have hope of
repenting.
Hermas 6[72]:6 But thou seest that many of them have indeed
repented from the time when thou spakest to them my commandments; yea, and
(others) still will repent. And as many as shall not repent, have lost
their life; but as many of them as repented, became good; and their
dwelling was placed within the first walls, and some of them even ascended
into the tower. Thou seest then," [saith he,] "that repentance
from sins bringeth life, but not to repent bringeth death.
Hermas 7[73]:1
"But as many as gave up (the rods) half-withered, and with cracks in
them, hear also concerning these. Those whose rods were half-withered
throughout are the double-minded; for they neither live nor are dead.
Hermas 7[73]:2 But those that have them half-withered and cracks in them,
these are both double-minded and slanderers, and are never at peace among
themselves but always causing dissensions. Yet even to these," [saith
he,] "repentance is given. Thou seest," [saith he,] "that
some of them have repented; and there is still," saith he, "hope
of repentance among them.
Hermas 7[73]:3 And as many of them," saith
he, "as have repented, have their abode within the tower; but as many
of them as have repented tardily shall abide within the walls; and as many
as repent not, but continue in their doings, shall die the death.
Hermas
7[73]:4 But they that have given up their rods green and with cracks,
these were found faithful and good at all times, [but] they have a certain
emulation one with another about first places and about glory of some kind
or other; but all these are foolish in having (emulation) one with another
about first places.
Hermas 7[73]:5 Yet these also, when they heard my
commandments, being good, purified themselves and repented quickly. They
have their habitation, therefore, within the tower. But if any one shall
again turn to dissension, he shall be cast out from the tower and shall
lose his life.
Hermas 7[73]:6 Life is for all those that keep the
commandments of the Lord. But in the commandments there is nothing about
first places, or about glory of any kind, but about long-suffering and
humility in man. In such men, therefore, is the life of the Lord, but in
factious and lawless men is death.
Hermas 8[74]:1 "But they that gave
up their rods half green and half withered, these are they that are mixed
up in business and cleave not to the saints. Therefore the one half of
them liveth, but the other half is dead.
Hermas 8[74]:2 Many then when
they heard my commandments repented. As many then as repented, have their
abode within the tower. But some of them altogether stood aloof These then
have no repentance; for by reason of their business affairs they
blasphemed the Lord and denied Him. So they lost their life for the
wickedness that they committed.
Hermas 8[74]:3 But many of them were
doubtful-minded. These still have place for repentance, if they repent
quickly, and their dwelling shall be within the tower; and if they repent
tardily, they shall dwell within the walls; but if they repent not, they
too have lost their life.
Hermas 8[74]:4 But they that have given up two
parts green and the third part withered, these are they that have denied
with manifold denials.
Hermas 8[74]:5 Many of them therefore repented and
departed to dwell inside the tower; but many utterly rebelled from God;
these lost their life finally. And some of them were double-minded and
caused dissensions. For these then there is repentance, if they repent
speedily and continue not in their pleasures; but if they continue in
their doings, they likewise procure for themselves death.
Hermas 9[75]:1
"But they that have given up their rods two thirds withered and one
third green, these are men who have been believers, but grew rich and
became renowned among the Gentiles. They clothed themselves with great
pride and became high-minded, and abandoned the truth and did not cleave
to the righteous, but lived together after the manner of the Gentiles, and
this path appeared the more pleasant unto them; yet they departed not from
God, but continued in the faith, though they wrought not the works of the
faith.
Hermas 9[75]:2 Many of them therefore repented, and they had their
habitation within the tower.
Hermas 9[75]:3 But others at the last living
with the Gentiles, and being corrupted by the vain opinions of the
Gentiles, departed from God, and worked the works of the Gentiles. These
therefore were numbered with the Gentiles.
Hermas 9[75]:4 But others of
them were doubtful-minded, not hoping to be saved by reason of the deeds
that they had done; and others were double-minded and made divisions among
themselves. For these then that were double-minded by reason of their
doings there is still repentance; but their repentance ought to be speedy,
that their dwelling may be within the tower; but for those who repent not,
but continue in their pleasures, death is nigh.
Hermas 10[76]:1 "But
they that gave up their rods green, yet with the extreme ends withered and
with cracks; these were found at all times good and faithful and glorious
in the sight of God, but they sinned to a very slight degree by reason of
little desires and because they had somewhat against one another. But,
when they heard my words, the greater part quickly repented, and their
dwelling was assigned within the tower.
Hermas 10[76]:2 But some of them
were double-minded, and some being double-minded made a greater
dissension. In these then there is still a hope of repentance, because
they were found always good; and hardly shall one of them die.
Hermas
10[76]:3 But they that gave up their rods withered, yet with a very small
part green, these are they that believed, but practiced the works of
lawlessness. Still they never separated from God, but bore the Name
gladly, and gladly received into their houses the servants of God. So
hearing of this repentance they repented without wavering, and they
practice all excellence and righteousness.
Hermas 10[76]:4 And some of
them even suffer persecution willingly, knowing the deeds that they did.
All these then shall have their dwelling within the tower."
Hermas
11[77]:1 And after he had completed the interpretations of all the rods,
he saith unto me; "Go, and tell all men to repent, and they shall
live unto God; for the Lord in His compassion sent me to give repentance
to all, though some of them do not deserve it for their deeds; but being
long-suffering the Lord willeth them that were called through His Son to
be saved."
Hermas 11[77]:2 I say to him; "Sir, I hope that all
when they hear these words will repent; for I am persuaded that each one,
when he fully knows his own deeds and fears God, will repent."
Hermas
11[77]:3 He answered and said unto me; "As many," [saith he,]
"as [shall repent] from their whole heart [and] shall cleanse
themselves from all the evil deeds aforementioned, and shall add nothing
further to their sins, shall receive healing from the Lord for their
former sins, unless they be double-minded concerning these commandments,
and they shall live unto God. [But as many," saith he, "as shall
add to their sins and walk in the lusts of this world, shall condemn
themselves to death.]
Hermas 11[77]:4 But do thou walk in my commandments,
and live [unto God; yea, and as many as shall walk in them and shall do
rightly, shall live unto God."]
Hermas 11[77]:5 Having shown me all
these things [and told me them] he saith to me; "Now the rest will I
declare (unto thee) after a few days."
Hermas 1[78]:heading Parable 9
Hermas 1[78]:1 After I had written down the commandments and parables of
the shepherd, the angel of repentance, he came to me and saith to me;
"I wish to show thee all things that the Holy Spirit, which spake
with thee in the form of the Church, showed unto thee. For that Spirit is
the Son of God.
Hermas 1[78]:2 For when thou wast weaker in the flesh, it
was not declared unto thee through an angel; but when thou wast enabled
through the Spirit, and didst grow mighty in thy strength so that thou
couldest even see an angel, then at length was manifested unto thee,
through the Church, the building of the tower. In fair and seemly manner
hast thou seen all things, (instructed) as it were by a virgin; but now
thou seest (being instructed) by an angel, though by the same Spirit;
Hermas 1[78]:3 yet must thou learn everything more accurately from me. For
to this end also was I appointed by the glorious angel to dwell in thy
house, that thou mightest see all things mightily, in nothing terrified,
even as before."
Hermas 1[78]:4 And he took me away into Arcadia, to
a certain rounded mountain, and set me on the top of the mountain, and
showed me a great plain, and round the plain twelve mountains, the
mountains having each a different appearance.
Hermas 1[78]:5 The first was
black as soot; the second was bare, without vegetation; the third was
thorny and full of briars;
Hermas 1[78]:6 the fourth had the vegetation
half-withered, the upper part of the grass green, but the part by the
roots withered, and some of the grass became withered, whenever the sun
had scorched it;
Hermas 1[78]:7 the fifth mountain had green grass and was
rugged; the sixth mountain was full with clefts throughout, some small and
some great, and the clefts had vegetation, but the grass was not very
luxuriant, but rather as if it had been withered;
Hermas 1[78]:8 the
seventh mountain had smiling vegetation, and the whole mountain was in a
thriving condition, and cattle and birds of every kind did feed upon that
mountain; and the more the cattle and the birds did feed, so much the more
did the herbage of that mountain flourish. The eighth mountain was full of
springs, and every kind of creature of the Lord did drink of the springs
on that mountain.
Hermas 1[78]:9 the ninth mountain had no water at all,
and was entirely desert; and it had in it wild beasts and deadly reptiles,
which destroy mankind. The tenth mountain had very large trees and was
umbrageous throughout, and beneath the shade lay sheep resting and
feeding.
Hermas 1[78]:10 the eleventh mountain was thickly wooded all
over, and the trees thereon were very productive, decked with divers kinds
of fruits, so that one seeing them would desire to eat of their fruits.
The twelfth mountain was altogether white and its aspect was cheerful; and
the mountain was most beauteous in itself.
Hermas 2[79]:1 And in the
middle of the plain he showed me a great white rock, rising up from the
plain. The rock was loftier than the mountains, being four-square, so that
it could contain the whole world.
Hermas 2[79]:2 Now this rock was
ancient, and had a gate hewn out of it; but the gate seemed to me to have
been hewed out quite recently. And the gate glistened beyond the
brightness of the sun, so that I marvelled at the brightness of the gate.
Hermas 2[79]:3 And around the gate stood twelve virgins. The four then
that stood at the corners seemed to me to be more glorious (than the
rest); but the others likewise were glorious; and they stood at the four
quarters of the gate, and virgins stood in pairs between them.
Hermas
2[79]:4 And they were clothed in linen tunics and girt about in seemly
fashion, having their right shoulders free, as if they intended to carry
some burden. Thus were they prepared, for they were very cheerful and
eager.
Hermas 2[79]:5 After I had seen these things, I marvelled in myself
at the greatness and the glory of what I was seeing And again I was
perplexed concerning the virgins, that delicate as they were they stood up
like men, as if they intended to carry the whole heaven.
Hermas 2[79]:6
And the shepherd saith unto me; "Why questionest thou within thyself
and art perplexed, and bringest sadness on thyself? For whatsoever things
thou canst not comprehend, attempt them not, if thou art prudent; but
entreat the Lord, that thou mayest receive understanding to comprehend
them.
Hermas 2[79]:7 What is behind thee thou canst not see, but what is
before thee thou beholdest. The things therefore which thou canst not see,
let alone, and trouble not thyself (about them; but the things which thou
seest, these master, and be not over curious about the rest; but I will
explain unto thee all things whatsoever I shall show thee. Have an eye
therefore to what remaineth."
Hermas 3[80]:1 I saw six men come, tall
and glorious and alike in appearance and they summoned a multitude of men.
And the others also which came were tall men and handsome and powerful.
And the six men ordered them to build a tower above the gate. And there
arose a great noise from those men who had come to build the tower, as
they ran hither and thither round the gate.
Hermas 3[80]:2 For the virgins
standing round the gate told the men to hasten to build the tower. Now the
virgins had spread out their hands, as if they would take something from
the men.
Hermas 3[80]:3 And the six men ordered stones to come up from a
certain deep place, and to go to the building of the tower. And there went
up ten stones square and polished, [not] hewn from a quarry.
Hermas
3[80]:4 And the six men called to the virgins, and ordered them to carry
all the stones which should go unto the building of the tower, and to pass
through the gate and to hand them to the men that were about to build the
tower.
Hermas 3[80]:5 And the virgins laid the first ten stones that rose
out of the deep on each other, and they carried them together, stone by
stone.
Hermas 4[81]:1 And just as they stood together around the gate, in
that order they carried them that seemed to be strong enough and had
stooped under the corners of the stone, while the others stooped at the
sides of the stone. And so they carried all the stones. And they carried
them right through the gate, as they were ordered, and handed them to the
men for the tower; and these took the stones and builded.
Hermas 4[81]:2
Now the building of the tower was upon the great rock and above the gate.
Those ten stones then were joined together, and they covered the whole
rock. And these formed a foundation for the building of the tower. And
[the rock and] the gate supported the whole tower.
Hermas 4[81]:3 And,
after the ten stones, other twenty-five stones came up from the deep, and
these were fitted into the building of the tower, being carried by the
virgins, like the former. And after these thirty-five stones came up. And
these likewise were fitted into the tower. And after these came up other
forty stones. and these all were put into the building of the tower. So
four rows were made in the foundations of the tower.
Hermas 4[81]:4 And
(the stones) ceased coming up from the deep, and the builders likewise
ceased for a little. And again the six men ordered the multitude of the
people to bring in stones from the mountains for the building of the
tower.
Hermas 4[81]:5 They were brought in accordingly from all the
mountains, of various colors, shaped by the men, and were handed to the
virgins; and the virgins carried them right through the gate, and handed
them in for the building of the tower. And when the various stones were
placed in the building, they became all alike and white, and they lost
their various colors.
Hermas 4[81]:6 But some stones were handed in by the
men for the building, and these did not become bright; but just as they
were placed, such likewise were they found; for they were not handed in by
the virgins, nor had they been carried in through the gate. These stones
then were unsightly in the building of the tower.
Hermas 4[81]:7 Then the
six men, seeing the stones that were unsightly in the building, ordered
them to be removed and carried [below] into their own place whence they
were brought.
Hermas 4[81]:8 And they say to the men who were bringing the
stones in; "Abstain for your parts altogether from handing in stones
for the building; but place them by the tower, that the virgins may carry
them through the gate, and hand them in for the building. For if,"
[say they,] they be not carried in through the gate by the hands of these
virgins, they cannot change their colors. Labor not therefore," [say
they,] "in vain."
Hermas 5[82]:1 And the building was finished
on that day, yet was not the tower finally completed, for it was to be
carried up [still] higher; and there was a cessation in the building. And
the six men ordered the builders to retire for a short time [all of them],
and to rest; but the virgins they ordered not to retire from the tower.
And methought the virgins were left to guard the tower.
Hermas 5[82]:2 And
after all had retired Land rested], I say to the shepherd; "How is
it, Sir," say I, "that the building of the tower was not
completed?" "The tower," he saith, "cannot yet be
finally completed, until its master come and test this building, that if
any stones be found crumbling, he may change them; for the tower is being
built according to His will."
Hermas 5[82]:3 "I would fain know,
Sir," say I, "what is this building of this tower, and
concerning the rock and gate, and the mountains, and the virgins, and the
stones that came up from the deep, and were not shaped, but went just as
they were into the building;
Hermas 5[82]:4 and wherefore ten stones were
first placed in the foundations, then twenty-five, then thirty-five, then
forty, and concerning the stones that had gone to the building and were
removed again and put away in their own place--concerning all these things
set my soul at rest, Sir, and explain them to me."
Hermas 5[82]:5
"If," saith he, "thou be not found possessed of an idle
curiosity, thou shalt know all things. For after a few days we shall come
here, and thou shalt see the sequel that overtaketh this tower and shalt
understand all the parables accurately."
Hermas 5[82]:6 And after a
few days we came to the place where we had sat, and he saith to me,
"Let us go to the tower; for the owner of the tower cometh to inspect
it." And we came to the tower, and there was no one at all by it,
save the virgins alone.
Hermas 5[82]:7 And the shepherd asked the virgins
whether the master of the tower had arrived. And they said that he would
be there directly to inspect the building.
Hermas 6[83]:1 And, behold,
after a little while I see an array of many men coming, and in the midst a
man of such lofty stature that he overtopped the tower.
Hermas 6[83]:2 And
the six men who superintended the building walked with him on the right
hand and on the left, and all they that worked at the building were with
him, and many other glorious attendants around him. And the virgins that
watched the tower ran up and kissed him, and they began to walk by his
side round the tower.
Hermas 6[83]:3 And that man inspected the building
so carefully, that he felt each single stone; and he held a rod in his
hand and struck each single stone that was built in.
Hermas 6[83]:4 And
when he smote, some of the stones became black as soot, others mildewed,
others cracked, others broke off short, others became neither white nor
black, others rough and not fitting in with the other stones, and others
with many spots; these were the varied aspects of the stones which were
found unsound for the building.
Hermas 6[83]:5 So he ordered all these to
be removed from the tower, and to be placed by the side of the tower, and
other stones to be brought and put into their place.
Hermas 6[83]:6 And
the builders asked him from what mountain he desired stones to be brought
and put into their place. And he would not have them brought from the
mountains, but ordered them to be brought from a certain plain that was
nigh at hand.
Hermas 6[83]:7 And the plain was dug, and stones were found
there bright and square, but some of them too were round. And all the
stones which there were anywhere in that plain were brought every one of
them, and were carried through the gate by the virgins.
Hermas 6[83]:8 And
the square stones were hewed, and set in the place of those which had been
removed; but the round ones were not placed in the building, because they
were too hard to be shaped, and to work on them was slow. So they were
placed by the side of the tower, as though they were intended to be shaped
and placed in the building; for they were very bright.
Hermas 7[84]:1 So
then, having accomplished these things, the glorious man who was lord of
the whole tower called the shepherd to him, and delivered unto him all the
stones which lay by the side of the tower, which were cast out from the
building, and saith unto him;
Hermas 7[84]:2 "Clean these stones
carefully, and set them in the building of the tower, these, I mean, which
can fit with the rest; but those which will not fit, throw far away from
the tower."
Hermas 7[84]:3 Having given these orders to the shepherd,
he departed from the tower with all those with whom he had come. And the
virgins stood round the tower watching it.
Hermas 7[84]:4 I say to the
shepherd, "How can these stones go again to the building of the
tower, seeing that they have been disapproved?" He saith unto me in
answer; "Seest thou", saith he, "these stones ?" I see
them, Sir," say I. "I myself," saith he, "will shape
the greater part of these stones and put them into the building, and they
shall fit in with the remaining stones."
Hermas 7[84]:5 "How,
Sir," say I, "can they, when they are chiseled, fill the same
space?" He saith unto me in answer, "As many as shall be found
small, shall be put into the middle of the building; but as many as are
larger, shall be placed nearer the outside, and they will bind them
together."
Hermas 7[84]:6 With these words he saith to me, "Let
us go away, and after two days let us come and clean these stones, and put
them into the building; for all things round the tower must be made clean,
lest haply the master come suddenly and find the circuit of the tower
dirty, and he be wroth, and so these stones shall not go to the building
of the tower, and I shall appear to be careless in my master's
sight."
Hermas 7[84]:7 And after two days we came to the tower, and
he saith unto me; "Let us inspect all the stones, and see those which
can go to the building." I say to him, "Sir, let us inspect
them."
Hermas 8[85]:1 And so commencing first we began to inspect the
black stones; and just as they were when set aside from the building, such
also they were found. And the shepherd ordered them to be removed from the
tower and to be put on one side.
Hermas 8[85]:2 Then he inspected those
that were mildewed, and he took and shaped many of them, and ordered the
virgins to take them up and put them into the building. And the virgins
took them up and placed them in the building of the tower in a middle
position. But the rest he ordered to be placed with the black ones; for
these also were found black.
Hermas 8[85]:3 Then he began to inspect those
that had the cracks; and of these he shaped many, and he ordered them to
be carried away by the hands of the virgins for the building. And they
were placed towards the outside, because they were found to be sounder.
But the rest could not be shaped owing to the number of the cracks. For
this reason therefore they were cast aside from the building of the tower.
Hermas 8[85]:4 Then he proceeded to inspect the stunted (stones), and many
among them were found black, and some had contracted great cracks; and he
ordered these also to be placed with those that had been cast aside. But
those of them which remained he cleaned and shaped, and ordered to be
placed in the building So the virgins took them up, and fitted them into
the middle of the building of the tower; for they were somewhat weak.
Hermas 8[85]:5 Then he began to inspect those that were half white and
half black, and many of them were (now) found black; and he ordered these
also to be taken up with those that had been cast aside. But all the rest
were [found white, and were] taken up by the virgins; for being white they
were fitted by [the virgins] them[selves] into the building. But they were
placed towards the outside, because they were found sound, so that they
could hold together those that were placed in the middle; for not a single
one of them was too short.
Hermas 8[85]:6 Then he began to inspect the
hard and rough; and a few of them were cast away, because they could not
be shaped; for they were found very hard. But the rest of them were shaped
[and taken up by the virgins] and fitted into the middle of the building
of the tower; for they were somewhat weak.
Hermas 8[85]:7 Then he
proceeded to inspect those that had the spots, and of these some few had
turned black and were cast away among the rest; but the remainder were
found bright and sound, and these were fitted by the virgins into the
building; but they were placed towards the outside, owing to their
strength.
Hermas 9[86]:1 Then he came to inspect the white and round
stones, and he saith unto me; "What shall we do with these
stones?" "How do I know, Sir?" say I [And he saith to me,]
"Perceivest thou nothing concerning them?"
Hermas 9[86]:2
"I, Sir," say I, "do not possess this art, neither am I a
mason, nor can I understand." Seest thou not," saith he,
"that they are very round; and if I wish to make them square, very
much must needs be chiseled off from them? Yet some of them must of
necessity be placed into the building."
Hermas 9[86]:3 "If then,
Sir," say I, "it must needs be so, why distress thyself, and why
not choose out for the building those thou willest, and fit them into
it?" He chose out from them the large and the bright ones, and shaped
them; and the virgins took them up, and fitted them into the outer parts
of the building.
Hermas 9[86]:4 But the rest, which remained over, were
taken up, and put aside into the plain whence they were brought; they were
not however cast away, "Because," saith he, there remaineth
still a little of the tower to be builded. And the master of the tower is
exceedingly anxious that these stones be fitted into the building, for
they are very bright."
Hermas 9[86]:5 So twelve women were called,
most beautiful in form, clad in black, [girded about and having the
shoulders bare,] with their hair hanging loose. And these women, methought,
had a savage look. And the shepherd ordered them to take up the stones
which had been cast away from the building, and to carry them off to the
same mountains from which also they had been brought;
Hermas 9[86]:6 and
they took them up joyfully, and carried away all the stones and put them
in the place whence they had been taken. And after all the stones had been
taken up, and not a single stone still lay round the tower, the shepherd
saith unto me; "Let us go round the tower, and see that there is no
defect in it." And I proceeded to go round it with him.
Hermas
9[86]:7 And when the shepherd saw that the tower was very comely in the
building, he was exceedingly glad; for the tower was so well builded, that
when I saw it I coveted the building of it; for it was builded, as it
were, of one stone, having one fitting in it. And the stone-work appeared
as if hewn out of the rock; for it seemed to me to be all a single stone.
Hermas 10[87]:1 And I, as I walked with him, was glad to see so brave a
sight. And the shepherd saith to me; "Go and bring plaster and fine
clay, that I may fill up the shapes of the stones that have been taken up
and put into the building; for all the circuit of the tower must be made
smooth."
Hermas 10[87]:2 And I did as he bade, and brought them to
him. "Assist me," saith he, "and the work will speedily be
accomplished." So he filled in the shapes of the stones which had
gone to the building, and ordered the circuit of the tower to be swept and
made clean.
Hermas 10[87]:3 And the virgins took brooms and swept, and
they removed all the rubbish from the tower, and sprinkled water, and the
site of the tower was made cheerful and very seemly.
Hermas 10[87]:4 The
shepherd saith unto me, "All," saith he, "hath now been
cleaned. If the lord come to inspect the tower, he hath nothing for which
to blame us." Saying this, he desired to go away.
Hermas 10[87]:5 But
I caught hold of his wallet, and began to adjure him by the Lord that he
would explain to me [all] what he had showed me. He saith to me; "I
am busy for a little while, and then I will explain everything to thee.
Await me here till I come."
Hermas 10[87]:6 I say to him; "Sir,
when I am here alone what shall I do?" "Thou art not
alone," saith he; "for these virgins are here with thee."
"Commend me then to them," say I. The shepherd calleth them to
him and saith to them; "I commend this man to you till I come,"
and he departed.
Hermas 10[87]:7 So I was alone with the virgins; and they
were most cheerful, and kindly disposed to Me especially the four of them
that were the more glorious in appearance.
Hermas 11[88]:1 The virgins say
to me; "Today the shepherd cometh not here." "What then
shall I do?" say I. "Stay for him," say they, "till
eventide; and if he come, he will speak with thee; but if he come not,
thou shalt stay here with us till he cometh."
Hermas 11[88]:2 I say
to them; "I will await him till evening, and if he come not, I will
depart home and return early in the morning." But they answered and
said unto me; "To us thou wast entrusted; thou canst not depart from
us."
Hermas 11[88]:3 "Where then," say I, "shall I
remain?" "Thou shalt pass the night with us," say they as a
brother, not as a husband; for thou art our brother, and henceforward we
will dwell with thee; for we love thee dearly." But I was ashamed to
abide with them.
Hermas 11[88]:4 And she that seemed to be the chief of
them began to kiss and to embrace me; and the others seeing her embrace
me, they too began to kiss me, and to lead me round the tower, and to
sport with me.
Hermas 11[88]:5 And I had become as it were a younger man,
and I commenced myself likewise to sport with them. For some of them began
to dance, [others to skip,] others to sing. But I kept silence and walked
with them round the tower, and was glad with them.
Hermas 11[88]:6 But
when evening came I wished to go away home; but they would not let me go,
but detained me. And I stayed the night with them, and I slept by the side
of the tower.
Hermas 11[88]:7 For the virgins spread their linen tunics on
the ground, and made me lie down in the midst of them, and they did
nothing else but pray; and I prayed with them without ceasing, and not
less than they. And the virgins rejoiced that I so prayed. And I stayed
there with the virgins until the morning till the second hour.
Hermas
11[88]:8 Then came the shepherd, and saith to the virgins; "Have ye
done him any injury?" "Ask him," say they. I say to him,
"Sir, I was rejoiced to stay with them." "On what didst
thou sup?" saith he "I supped, Sir," say I, "on the
words of the Lord the whole night through." "Did they treat thee
well?" saith he. "Yes, Sir," say I.
Hermas 11[88]:9
"Now," saith he, "what wouldest thou hear first?"
"In the order as thou showedst to me, Sir, from the beginning,"
say I; "I request thee, Sir, to explain to me exactly in the order
that I shall enquire of thee." According as thou desirest,"
saith he, "even so will I interpret to thee, and I will conceal
nothing whatever from thee."
Hermas 12[89]:1 "First of all,
Sir," say I, "explain this to me. The rock and the gate, what is
it?" "This rock," saith he, "and gate is the Son of
God." "How, Sir," say I, "is the rock ancient, but the
gate recent?" "Listen," saith he, "and understand,
foolish man.
Hermas 12[89]:2 The Son of God is older than all His
creation, so that He became the Father's adviser in His creation.
Therefore also He is ancient." "But the gate, why is it recent,
Sir?" say I.
Hermas 12[89]:3 "Because," saith he, "He
was made manifest in the last days of the consummation; therefore the gate
was made recent, that they which are to be saved may enter through it into
the kingdom of God.
Hermas 12[89]:4 Didst thou see," saith he,
"that the stones which came through the gate have gone to the
building of the tower, but those which came not through it were cast away
again to their own place?" "I saw, Sir," say I.
"Thus," saith he, "no one shall enter into the kingdom of
God, except he receive the name of His Son.
Hermas 12[89]:5 For if thou
wishest to enter into any city, and that city is walled all round and has
one gate only, canst thou enter into that city except through the gate
which it hath?" "Why, how, Sir," say I, "is it
possible otherwise?" "If then thou canst not enter into the city
except through the gate itself, even so," saith he, "a man
cannot enter into the kingdom of God except by the name of His Son that is
beloved by Him.
Hermas 12[89]:6 Didst thou see," saith he, "the
multitude that is building the tower?" "I saw it, Sir," say
I. "They," saith he, are all glorious angels. With these then
the Lord is walled around. But the gate is the Son of God; there is this
one entrance only to the Lord. No one then shall enter in unto Him
otherwise than through His Son.
Hermas 12[89]:7 Didst thou see,"
saith he, "the six men, and the glorious and mighty man in the midst
of them, him that walked about the tower and rejected the stones from the
building?" "I saw him, Sir," say I.
Hermas 12[89]:8
"The glorious man," saith he, "is the Son of God, and those
six are the glorious angels who guard Him on the right hand and on the
left. Of these glorious angels not one," saith he, "shall enter
in unto God without Him; whosoever shall not receive His name, shall not
enter into the kingdom of God."
Hermas 13[90]:1 "But the
tower," say I, "what is it?" "The tower," saith
he, "why, this is the Church.
Hermas 13[90]:2 "And these
virgins, who are they?" "They," saith he, "are holy
spirits; and no man can otherwise be found in the kingdom of God, unless
these shall clothe him with their garment; for if thou receive only the
name, but receive not the garment from them, thou profitest nothing. For
these virgins are powers of the Son of God. If [therefore] thou bear the
Name, and bear not His power, thou shalt bear His Name to none effect.
Hermas 13[90]:3 And the stones," saith he, "which thou didst see
cast away, these bare the Name, but clothed not themselves with the
raiment of the virgins." "Of what sort, Sir," say I,
"is their raiment?" "The names themselves," saith he,
"are their raiment. Whosoever beareth the Name of the Son of God,
ought to bear the names of these also; for even the Son Himself beareth
the names of these virgins.
Hermas 13[90]:4 As many stones," saith
he, "as thou sawest enter into the building of the tower, being given
in by their hands and waiting for the building, they have been clothed in
the power of these virgins.
Hermas 13[90]:5 For this cause thou seest the
tower made a single stone with the rock. So also they that have believed
in the Lord through His Son and clothe themselves in these spirits, shall
become one spirit and one body, and their garments all of one color. But
such persons as bear the names of the virgins have their dwelling in the
tower."
Hermas 13[90]:6 "The stones then, Sir," say I,
"which are cast aside, wherefore were they cast aside? For they
passed through the gate and were placed in the building of the tower by
the hands of the virgins." "Since all these things interest
thee," saith he, "and thou enquirest diligently, listen as
touching the stones that have been cast aside.
Hermas 13[90]:7 These
all," [saith he,] "received the name of the Son of God, and
received likewise the power of these virgins. When then they received
these spirits, they were strengthened, and were with the servants of God,
and they had one spirit and one body [and one garment]; for they had the
same mind, and they wrought righteousness.
Hermas 13[90]:8 After a certain
time then they were persuaded by the women whom thou sawest clad in black
raiment, and having their shoulders bare and their hair loose, and
beautiful in form. When they saw them they desired them, and they clothed
themselves with their power, but they stripped off from themselves the
power of the virgins.
Hermas 13[90]:9 They then were cast away from the
house of God, and delivered to these (women). But they that were not
deceived by the beauty of these women remained in the house of God. So
thou hast," saith he, "the interpretation of them that were cast
aside."
Hermas 13[90]:1 What then, Sir," say I, "if these
men, being such as they are, should repent and put away their desire for
these women, and return unto the virgins, and walk in their power and in
their works? Shall they not enter into the house of God?"
Hermas
13[90]:2 "They shall enter," saith he, "if they shall put
away the works of these women, and take again the power of the virgins,
and walk in their works. For this is the reason why there was also a
cessation in the building, that, if these repent, they may go into the
building of the tower; but if they repent not, then others will go, and
these shall be cast away finally."
Hermas 13[90]:3 For all these
things I gave thanks unto the Lord, because He had compassion on all that
called upon His name, and sent forth the angel of repentance to us that
had sinned against Him, and refreshed our spirit, and, when we were
already ruined and had no hope of life, restored our life.
Hermas 13[90]:4
"Now, Sir," say I, "show me why the tower is not built upon
the ground, but upon the rock and upon the gate." "Because thou
art senseless," saith he, "and without understanding [thou
askest the question]." "I am obliged, Sir," say I, "to
ask all questions of thee, because I am absolutely unable to comprehend
anything at all; for all are great and glorious and difficult for men to
understand."
Hermas 13[90]:5 "Listen," saith he. "The
name of the Son of God is great and incomprehensible, and sustaineth the
whole world. If then all creation is sustained by the Son [of God], what
thinkest thou of those that are called by Him, and bear the name of the
Son of God, and walk according to His commandments?
Hermas 13[90]:6 Seest
thou then what manner of men He sustaineth? Even those that bear His name
with their whole heart. He Himself then is become their foundation, and He
sustaineth them gladly, because they are not ashamed to bear His
name."
Hermas 15[92]:1 "Declare to me, Sir," say I,
"the names of the virgins, and of the women that are clothed in the
black garments." "Hear," saith he, "the names of the
more powerful virgins, those that are stationed at the corners.
Hermas
15[92]:2 The first is Faith, and the second, Continence, and the third,
Power, and the fourth, Long-suffering. But the others stationed between
them have these names--Simplicity, Guilelessness, Purity, Cheerfulness,
Truth, Understanding, Concord, Love. He that beareth these names and the
name of the Son of God shall be able to enter into the kingdom of God.
Hermas 15[92]:3 Hear," saith he, "likewise the names of the
women that wear the black garments. Of these also four are more powerful
than the rest; the first is Unbelief; the second, Intemperance; the third,
Disobedience; the fourth, Deceit; and their followers are called, Sadness,
Wickedness, Wantonness, Irascibility, Falsehood, Folly, Slander, Hatred.
The servant of God that beareth these names shall see the kingdom of God,
but shall not enter into it."
Hermas 15[92]:4 "But the stones,
Sir," say I, "that came from the deep, and were fitted into the
building, who are they?" "The first," saith he, "even
the ten, that were placed in the foundations, are the first generation;
the twenty-five are the second generation of righteous men; the
thirty-five are God's prophets and His ministers; the forty are apostles
and teachers of the preaching of the Son of God."
Hermas 15[92]:5
"Wherefore then, Sir," say I, "did the virgins give in
these stones also for the building of the tower and carry them through the
gate?"
Hermas 15[92]:6 "Because these first," saith he,
"bore these spirits, and they never separated the one from the other,
neither the spirits from the men nor the men from the spirits, but the
spirits abode with them till they fell asleep; and if they had not had
these spirits with them, they would not have been found useful for the
building of this tower."
Hermas 15[92]:1 "Show me still further,
Sir," say I. "What desirest thou to know besides?" saith
he. "Wherefore, Sir," say I, "did the stones come up from
the deep, and wherefore were they placed into the building, though they
bore these spirits?"
Hermas 15[92]:2 "It was necessary for
them," saith he, "to rise up through water, that they might be
made alive; for otherwise they could not enter into the kingdom of God,
except they had put aside the deadness of their [former] life.
Hermas
15[92]:3 So these likewise that had fallen asleep received the seal of the
Son of God and entered into the kingdom of God. For before a man,"
saith he, "has borne the name of [the Son of] God, he is dead; but
when he has received the seal, he layeth aside his deadness, and resumeth
life.
Hermas 15[92]:4 The seal then is the water: so they go down into the
water dead, and they come up alive. "thus to them also this seal was
preached, and they availed themselves of it that they might enter into the
kingdom of God."
Hermas 15[92]:5 "Wherefore, Sir," say I,
"did the forty stones also come up with them from the deep, though
they had already received the seal?" "Because," saith he,
"these, the apostles and the teachers who preached the name of the
Son of God, after they had fallen asleep in the power and faith of the Son
of God, preached also to them that had fallen asleep before them, and
themselves gave unto them the seal of the preaching.
Hermas 15[92]:6
Therefore they went down with them into the water, and came up again. But
these went down alive [and again came up alive]; whereas the others that
had fallen asleep before them went down dead and came up alive.
Hermas
15[92]:7 So by their means they were quickened into life, and came to the
full knowledge of the name of the Son of God. For this cause also they
came up with them, and were fitted with them into the building of the
tower and were builded with them, without being shaped; for they fell
asleep in righteousness and in great purity. Only they had not this seal.
Thou hast then the interpretation of these things also." "I
have, Sir," say I.
Hermas 17[94]:1 "Now then, Sir, explain to me
concerning the mountains. Wherefore are their forms diverse the one from
the other, and various?" "Listen," saith he. "These
twelve mountains are [twelve] tribes that inhabit the whole world. To
these (tribes) then the Son of God was preached by the Apostles."
Hermas 17[94]:2 But explain to me, Sir, why they are various--these
mountains--and each has a different appearance." "Listen,"
saith he. "These twelve tribes which inhabit the whole world are
twelve nations; and they are various in understanding and in mind. As
various, then, as thou sawest these mountains to be, such also are the
varieties in the mind of these nations, and such their understanding. And
I will show unto thee the conduct of each."
Hermas 17[94]:3
"First, Sir," say I, "show me this, why the mountains being
so various, yet, when their stones were set into the building, became
bright and of one color, just like the stones that had come up from the
deep."
Hermas 17[94]:4 "Because," saith he, "all the
nations that dwell under heaven, when they heard and believed, were called
by the one name of [the Son of] God. So having received the seal, they had
one understanding and one mind, and one faith became theirs and [one]
love, and they bore the spirits of the virgins along with the Name;
therefore the building of the tower became of one color, even bright as
the sun.
Hermas 17[94]:5 But after they entered in together, and became
one body, some of them defiled themselves, and were cast out from the
society of the righteous, and became again such as they were before, or
rather even worse."
Hermas 18[95]:1 "How, Sir," say I,
"did they become worse, after they had fully known God?"
"He that knoweth not God," saith he, "and committeth
wickedness, hath a certain punishment for his wickedness; but he that
knoweth God fully ought not any longer to commit wickedness, but to do
good.
Hermas 18[95]:2 If then he that ought to do good committeth
wickedness, does he not seem to do greater wickedness than the man that
knoweth not God? Therefore they that have not known God, and commit
wickedness, are condemned to death; but they that have known God and seen
His mighty works, and yet commit wickedness, shall receive a double
punishment, and shall die eternally. In this way therefore shall the
Church of God be purified.
Hermas 18[95]:3 And as thou sawest the stones
removed from the tower and delivered over to the evil spirits, they too
shall be cast out; and there shall be one body of them that are purified,
just as the tower, after it had been purified, became made as it were of
one stone. Thus shall it be with the Church of God also, after she hath
been purified, and the wicked and hypocrites and blasphemers and
double-minded and they that commit various kinds of wickedness have been
cast out.
Hermas 18[95]:4 When these have been cast out, the Church of God
shall be one body, one understanding, one mind, one faith, one love. And
then the Son of God shall rejoice and be glad in them, for that He hath
received back His people pure." "Great and glorious, Sir,"
say I, "are all these things.
Hermas 18[95]:5 Once more, Sir,"
[say I,] "show me the force and the doings of each one of the
mountains, that every soul that trusteth in the Lord, when it heareth, may
glorify His great and marvelous and glorious name."
"Listen," saith he, "to the variety of the mountains and of
the twelve nations.
Hermas 19[96]:1 "From the first mountain, which
was black, they that have believed are such as these; rebels and
blasphemers against the Lord, and betrayers of the servants of God. For
these there is no repentance, but there is death. For this cause also they
are black; for their race is lawless.
Hermas 19[96]:2 And from the second
mountain, the bare one, they that believed are such as these; hypocrites
and teachers of wickedness. And these then are like the former in not
having the fruit of righteousness. For, even as their mountain is
unfruitful, so likewise such men as these have a name indeed, but they are
void of the faith, and there is no fruit of truth in them. For these then
repentance is offered, if they repent quickly; but if they delay, they
will have their death with the former."
Hermas 19[96]:3
"Wherefore, Sir," say I, "is repentance possible for them,
but not for the former ? For their doings are almost the same."
"On this account," he saith, "is repentance offered for
them, because they blasphemed not their Lord, nor became betrayers of the
servants of God; yet from desire of gain they played the hypocrite, and
taught each other [after] the desires of sinful men. But they shall pay a
certain penalty; yet repentance is ordained for them, because they are not
become blasphemers or betrayers.
Hermas 20[97]:1 "And from the third
mountain, which had thorns and briars, they that believed are such as
these; some of them are wealthy and others are entangled in many business
affairs. The briars are the wealthy, and the thorns are they that are
mixed up in various business affairs.
Hermas 20[97]:2 These [then, that
are mixed up in many and various business affairs,] cleave [not] to the
servants of God, but go astray, being choked by their affairs, but the
wealthy unwillingly cleave to the servants of God, fearing lest they may
be asked for something by them. Such men therefore <i>shall hardly
enter into the kingdom of God.</i>
Hermas 20[97]:3 For as <i>it
is difficult</i> to walk on briars with bare feet, so also it is
difficult for such men <i>to enter the kingdom of God.</i>
Hermas 20[97]:4 But for all these repentance is possible, but it must be
speedy, that in respect to what they omitted to do in the former times,
they may now revert to (past) days, and do some good. If then they shall
repent and do some good, they shall live unto God; but if they continue in
their doings, they shall be delivered over to those women, the which shall
put them to death.
Hermas 20[97]:1 "And from the fourth mountain,
which had much vegetation, the upper part of the grass green and the part
towards the roots withered, and some of it dried up by the sun, they that
believed are such as these; the double-minded, and they that have the Lord
on their lips, but have Him not in their heart.
Hermas 20[97]:2 Therefore
their foundations are dry and without power, and their words only live,
but their works are dead. Such men are neither alive nor dead. They are,
therefore, like unto the double-minded; for the double-minded are neither
green nor withered; for they are neither alive nor dead.
Hermas 20[97]:3
For as their grass was withered up when it saw the sun, so also the
double-minded, when they hear of tribulation, through their cowardice
worship idols and are ashamed of the name of their Lord.
Hermas 20[97]:4
Such are neither alive nor dead. Yet these also, if they repent quickly,
shall be able to live; but if they repent not, they are delivered over
already to the women who deprive them of their life.
Hermas 22[99]:1
"And from the fifth mountain, which had green grass and was rugged,
they that believed are such as these; they are faithful, but slow to learn
and stubborn and self-pleasers, desiring to know all things, and yet they
know nothing at all.
Hermas 22[99]:2 By reason of this their stubbornness,
understanding stood aloof from them, and a foolish senselessness entered
into them; and they praise themselves as having understanding, and they
desire to be self-appointed teachers, senseless though they are.
Hermas
22[99]:3 Owing then to this pride of heart many, while they exalted
themselves, have been made empty; for a mighty demon is stubbornness and
vain confidence. Of these then many were cast away, but some repented and
believed, and submitted themselves to those that had understanding, having
learnt their own senselessness.
Hermas 22[99]:4 Yea, and to the rest that
belong to this class repentance is offered; for they did not become
wicked, but rather foolish and without understanding. If these then shall
repent, they shall live unto God; but if they repent not, they shall have
their abode with the women who work evil against them.
Hermas 23[100]:1
"But they that believed from the sixth mountain, which had clefts
great and small, and in the clefts herbage withered, are such as these;
Hermas 23[100]:2 they that have the small clefts, these are they that have
aught against one another, and from their backbitings they are withered in
the faith; but many of these repented Yea, and the rest shall repent, when
they hear my commandments; for their backbitings are but small, and they
shall quickly repent.
Hermas 23[100]:3 But they that have great clefts,
these are persistent in their backbitings and bear grudges, nursing wrath
against one another. These then were thrown right away from the tower and
rejected from its building. Such persons therefore shall with difficulty
live.
Hermas 23[100]:4 If God and our Lord, Who ruleth over all things and
hath the authority over all His creation, beareth no grudge against them
that confess their sins, but is propitiated, doth man, who is mortal and
full of sins, bear a grudge against man, as though he were able to destroy
or save him?
Hermas 23[100]:5 I say unto you--I, the angel of
repentance--unto as many as hold this heresy, put it away from you and
repent, and the Lord shall heal your former sins, if ye shall purify
yourselves from this demon; but if not, ye shall be delivered unto him to
be put to death.
Hermas 24[101]:1 " And from the seventh mountain, on
which was herbage green and smiling, and the whole mountain thriving, and
cattle of every kind and the fowls of heaven were feeding on the herbage
on that mountain, and the green herbage, on which they fed, only grew the
more luxuriant, they that believed are such as these;
Hermas 24[101]:2
they were ever simple and guileless and blessed, having nothing against
one another, but rejoicing always in the servants of God, and clothed in
the Holy Spirit of these virgins, and having compassion always on every
man, and out of their labors they supplied every man's need without
reproach and without misgiving.
Hermas 24[101]:3 The Lord then seeing
their simplicity and entire childliness made them to abound in the labors
of their hands, and bestowed favor on them in all their doings.
Hermas
24[101]:4 But I say unto you that are such--I, the angel of
repentance--remain to the end such as ye are, and your seed shall never be
blotted out. For the Lord hath put you to the proof, and enrolled you
among our number, and your whole seed shall dwell with the Son of God; for
of His Spirit did ye receive.
Hermas 25[102]:1 "And from the eighth
mountain, where were the many springs, and all the creatures of the Lord
did drink of the springs, they that believed are such as these;
Hermas
25[102]:2 apostles and teachers, who preached unto the whole world, and
who taught the word of the Lord in soberness and purity, and kept back no
part at all for evil desire, but walked always in righteousness and truth,
even as also they received the Holy Spirit. Such therefore shall have
their entrance with the angels.
Hermas 26[103]:1 "And from the ninth
mountain, which was desert, which had [the] reptiles and wild beasts in it
which destroy mankind, they that believed are such as these;
Hermas
26[103]:2 they that have the spots are deacons that exercised their office
ill, and plundered the livelihood of widows and orphans, and made gain for
themselves from the ministrations which they had received to perform. If
then they abide in the same evil desire, they are dead and there is no
hope of life for them; but if they turn again and fulfill their
ministrations in purity, it shall be possible for them to live.
Hermas
26[103]:3 But they that are mildewed, these are they that denied and
turned not again unto their Lord, but having become barren and desert,
because they cleave not unto the servants of God but remain alone, they
destroy their own souls.
Hermas 26[103]:4 For as a vine left alone in a
hedge, if it meet with neglect, is destroyed and wasted by the weeds, and
in time becometh wild and is no longer useful to its owner, so also men of
this kind have given themselves up in despair and become useless to their
Lord, by growing wild.
Hermas 26[103]:5 To these then repentance cometh,
unless they be found to have denied from the heart; but if a man be found
to have denied from the heart, I know not whether it is possible for him
to live.
Hermas 26[103]:6 And this I say not in reference to these days,
that a man after denying should receive repentance; for it is impossible
for him to be saved who shall now deny his Lord; but for those who denied
Him long ago repentance seemeth to be possible. If a man therefore will
repent, let him do so speedily before the tower is completed; but if not,
he shall be destroyed by the women and put to death.
Hermas 26[103]:7 And
the stunted, these are the treacherous and backbiters; and the wild beasts
which thou sawest on the mountain are these. For as wild beasts with their
venom poison and kill a man, so also do the words of such men poison and
kill a man.
Hermas 26[103]:8 These then are broken off short from their
faith through the conduct which they have in themselves; but some of them
repented and were saved; and the rest that are of this kind can be saved,
if they repent; but if they repent not, they shall meet their death from
those women of whose power they are possessed.
Hermas 27[104]:1 "And
from the tenth mountain, where were trees sheltering certain sheep, they
that believed are such as these;
Hermas 27[104]:2 bishops, hospitable
persons, who gladly received into their houses at all times the servants
of God without hypocrisy. [These bishops] at all times without ceasing
sheltered the needy and the widows in their ministration and conducted
themselves in purity at all times.
Hermas 27[104]:3 These [all] then shall
be sheltered by the Lord for ever. They therefore that have done these
things are glorious in the sight of God, and their place is even now with
the angels, if they shall continue unto the end serving the Lord.
Hermas
27[104]:1 "And from the eleventh mountain, where were trees full of
fruit, decked with divers kinds of fruits, they that believed are such as
these;
Hermas 27[104]:2 they that suffered for the Name [of the Son of
God], who also suffered readily with their whole heart, and yielded up
their lives."
Hermas 27[104]:3 "Wherefore then, Sir," say
I, "have all the trees fruits, but some of their fruits are more
beautiful than others?" "Listen," saith he; "all as
many as ever suffered for the Name's sake are glorious in the sight of
God, and the sins of all these were taken away, because they suffered for
the name of the Son of God. Now here why their fruits are various, and
some surpassing others.
Hermas 27[104]:4 "As many," saith he,
"as were tortured and denied not, when brought before the magistery,
but suffered readily, these are the more glorious in the sight of the
Lord; their fruit is that which surpasseth. But as many as become cowards,
and were lost in uncertainty, and considered in their hearts whether they
should deny or confess, and yet suffered, their fruits are less, because
this design entered into their heart; for this design is evil, that a
servant should deny his own lord.
Hermas 27[104]:5 See to it, therefore,
ye who entertain this idea, lest this design remain in your hearts, and ye
die unto God. But ye that suffer for the Name's sake ought to glorify God,
because God deemed you worthy that ye should bear this name, and that all
your sins should be healed.
Hermas 27[104]:6 Reckon yourselves blessed
therefore; yea, rather think that ye have done a great work, if any of you
shall suffer for God's sake. The Lord bestoweth life upon you, and ye
percieved it not; for your sins weighed you down, and if ye had not
suffered for the Name [of the Lord], ye had died unto God by reason of
your sins.
Hermas 27[104]:7 These things I say unto you that waver as
touching denial and confession. Confess that ye have the Lord, lest
denying Him ye be delivered into prison.
Hermas 27[104]:8 If the Gentiles
punish their slaves, if any one deny his lord, what think ye the Lord will
do unto you, He who has authority over all things? Away with these designs
from your hearts, that ye may live forever unto God."
Hermas
27[104]:1 "And from the twelfth mountain, which was white, they that
believed are such as these; they that are as very babes, into whose heart
no guile entereth, neither lernt they what wickedness is, but they
remained as babes forever.
Hermas 27[104]:2 Such as these then dwell
without doubt in the kingdom of God, because they defiled the commandments
of God in nothing, but continued as babes all the days of their life in
the same mind.
Hermas 27[104]:3 As many of you therefore as shall
continue," saith he, "and shall be as infants not having guile,
shall be glorious [even] than all them that have been mentioned before;
for all infants are glorious in the sight of God, and stand first in His
sight. Blessed then are ye, as many as have put away wickedness from you,
and have clothed yourselves in guilelessness: ye shall live unto God
cheifest of all."
Hermas 27[104]:4 After he had finished the parables
of the mountains, I say unto him, "Sir, now explain to me concerning
the stones that were taken from the plain and placed in the building in
the room of the stoes that were taken from the tower, and concerning the
round (stones) which were placed in the building, and concerning those
that were still round".
Hermas 27[104]:1 "Hear," saith he,
"likewise concerning all these things. The stones which were taken
from the plain and placed in the building of the tower in the room of
those that were rejected, are the roots of this white mountain.
Hermas
27[104]:2 When then they that believed from this mountain were all found
guiltless, the lord of the tower ordered these from the roots of the
mountain to be put into the building of the tower. For He knew that if
these stones should go into the building [of the tower], they would remain
bright and not one of them would turn black.
Hermas 27[104]:3 But if he
added (stones) from other mountains, he would have been obliged to visit
the tower again, and to purify it. Now all these have been found white,
who have believed and who shall believe; for they are of the same kind.
Blessed is this kind, for it is innocent!
Hermas 27[104]:4 Hear now
likewise concerning those round and bright stones. All these are from the
white mountain. Now here wherefore they have been found round. Their
riches have darkened and obscured them a little from the truth.
Hermas
27[104]:5 When therefore the Lord percieved their mind, *that they could
favor the truth,* and likewise remain good, He commanded their possessions
to be cut off from them, yet not to be taken away altogether, so that they
might be able to do some good with that which hath been left to them, and
might live unto God for that they come of a good kind. So therefore they
have been cut away a little, and placed in the building of this
tower".
Hermas 27[104]:1 "But the other (stones), which have
remained round and have not been fitted into the building, because they
have not yet received the seal, have been replaced in their own
possession, for they were found very round.
Hermas 27[104a]:2 For this
world and the vanities of their possessions must be cut off from them, and
then they will fit into the kingdom of God. For it is necessary that they
should enter into the kingdom of God; because the Lord hath blessed this
innocent kind. Of this kind then not one shall perish. Yea, even though
any one of them being tempted by the most wicked devil have committed any
fault, he shall return speedily unto his Lord.
Hermas 27[104a]:3 Blessed I
pronounced you all to be--I the angel of repentance--whoever of you are
guileless as infants, because your part is good and honorable in the sight
of God.
Hermas 27[104a]:4 Moreover I bid all of you, whoever have received
this seal, keep guilelessness, and bear no grudge, and continue not in
your wickedness nor in the memory of the offenses of bitterness; but
become of one spirit, and heal these evil clefts and take them away from
among you, that the owner of the flocks may rejoice concerning them.
Hermas 27[104a]:5 For he will rejoice, if he find all things whole. But if
he find any part of the flock scattered, woe unto the shepherds.
Hermas
27[104a]:6 For if the shepherds themselves shall have been found scattered,
how will they answer for the flocks? Will they say that they were harassed
by the flock? No credence will be given them. For it is an incredible
thing that a shepherd should be injured by his flock; and he will be
punished the more because of his falsehood. And I am the shepherd, and it
behoveth me most strongly to render an account for you.
Hermas 32[109]:1
"Amend yourselves therefore, while the tower is still in course of
building.
Hermas 32[109]:2 The Lord dwelleth in men that love peace; for
to Him peace is dear; but from the contentious and them that are given up
to wickedness He keepeth afar off. Restore therefore to Him your spirit
whole as ye received it.
Hermas 32[109]:3 For suppose thou hast given to a
fuller a new garment whole, and desirest to receive it back again whole,
but the fuller give it back to thee torn, wilt thou receive it thus? Wilt
thou not at once blaze out and attack him with reproaches, saying;
"The garment which I gave thee was whole; wherefore hast thou rent it
and made it useless? See, by reason of the rent, which thou hast made in
it, it cannot be of use." Wilt thou not then say all this to a fuller
even about a rent which he has made in thy garment?
Hermas 32[109]:4 If
therefore thou art thus vexed in the matter of thy garment, and
complainest because thou receivest it not back whole, what thinkest thou
the Lord will do to thee, He, Who gave thee the spirit whole, and thou
hast made it absolutely useless, so that it cannot be of any use at all to
its Lord? For its use began to be useless, when it was corrupted by thee.
Will not therefore the Lord of this spirit for this thy deed punish [thee
with death]?"
Hermas 32[109]:5 "Certainly," I said,
"all those, whomsoever He shall find continuing to bear malice, He
will punish." "Trample not," said he, "upon His mercy,
but rather glorify Him, because He is so long-suffering with your sins,
and is not like unto you. Practice then repentance which is expedient for
you.
Hermas 33[110]:1 "All these things which are written above I,
the shepherd, the angel of repentance, have declared and spoken to the
servants of God. If then ye shall believe and hear my words, and walk in
them, and amend your ways, ye shall be able to live. But if ye continue in
wickedness and in bearing malice, no one of this kind shall live unto God.
All things which were to be spoken by me have (now) been spoken to
you."
Hermas 33[110]:2 The shepherd said to me, "Hast thou asked
me all thy questions?" And I said, "Yes, Sir." "Why
then hast thou not enquired of me concerning the shape of the stones
placed in the building, in that we filled up their shapes?" And I
said, "I forgot, Sir."
Hermas 33[110]:3 "Listen now,"
said he, "concerning them. These are they that have heard my
commandments now, and have practiced repentance with their whole heart. So
when the Lord saw that their repentance was good and pure, and that they
could continue therein, he ordered their former sins to be blotted out.
These shapes then were their former sins, and they have been chiseled away
that they might not appear."
Hermas 1[111]:heading Parable 10
Hermas
1[111]:1 After I had written out this book completely, the angel who had
delivered me to the shepherd came to the house where I was, and sat upon a
couch, and the shepherd stood at his right hand. Then he called me, and
spake thus unto me;
Hermas 1[111]:2 "I delivered thee," said he,
"and thy house to this shepherd, that thou mightest be protected by
him." "True, Sir," I said "If therefore," said
he, "thou desirest to be protected from all annoyance and all
cruelty, to have also success in every good work and word, and all the
power of righteousness, walk in his commandments, which I have given thee,
and thou shalt be able to get the mastery over all wickedness.
Hermas
1[111]:3 For if thou keep his commandments, all evil desire and the
sweetness of this world shall be subject unto thee; moreover success shall
attend thee in every good undertaking. Embrace his gravity and
self-restraint, and tell it out unto all men that he is held in great
honor and dignity with the Lord, and is a ruler of great authority, and
powerful in his office. To him alone in the whole world hath authority
over repentance been assigned. Seemeth he to thee to be powerful? Yet ye
despise the gravity and moderation which he useth towards you."
Hermas 2[112]:1 I say unto him; "Ask him, Sir, himself, whether from
the time that he hath been in my house, I have done ought out of order,
whereby I have offended him."
Hermas 2[112]:2 "I myself
know," said he, "that thou hast done nothing out of order, nor
art about to do so. And so I speak these things unto thee, that thou
mayest persevere. For he hath given a good account of thee unto me. Thou
therefore shalt speak these words to others, that they too who have
practiced or shall practice repentance may be of the same mind as thou
art; and he may give a good report of them to me, and I unto the
Lord."
Hermas 2[112]:3 "I too, Sir," I say, "declare
to every man the mighty works of the Lord; for I hope that all who have
sinned in the past, if they hear these things, will gladly repent and
recover life."
Hermas 2[112]:4 "Continue therefore," said
he, "in this ministry, and complete it unto the end. For whosoever
fulfill his commandments shall have life; yea such a man (shall have)
great honor with the Lord. But whosoever keep not his commandments, fly
from their life, and oppose him, and follow not his commandments, but
deliver themselves over to death; and each one becometh guilty of his own
blood. But I bid thee obey these commandments, and thou shalt have a
remedy for thy sins.
Hermas 3[113]:1 "Moreover, I have sent these
virgins unto thee, that they may dwell with thee; for I have seen that
they are friendly towards thee. Thou hast them therefore as helpers, that
thou mayest be the better able to keep his commandments; for it is
impossible that these commandments be kept without the help of these
virgins. I see too that they are glad to be with thee. But I will charge
them that they depart not at all from thy house.
Hermas 3[113]:2 Only do
thou purify thy house; for in a clean house they will gladly dwell. For
they are clean and chaste and industrious, and have favor in the sight of
the Lord. If, therefore, they shall find thy house pure, they will
continue with thee; but if the slightest pollution arise, they will depart
from thy house at once. For these virgins love not pollution in any
form."
Hermas 3[113]:3 I said unto him, "I hope, Sir, that I
shall please them, so that they may gladly dwell in my house for ever; and
just as he to whom thou didst deliver me maketh no complaint against me,
so they likewise shall make no complaint."
Hermas 3[113]:4 He saith
unto the shepherd, "I perceive," saith he, "that he wishes
to live as the servant of God, and that he will keep these commandments,
and will place these virgins in a clean habitation."
Hermas 3[113]:5
With these words he again delivered me over to the shepherd, and called
the virgins, and said to them; "Inasmuch as I see that ye are glad to
dwell in this man's house, I commend to you him and his house, that ye
depart not at all from his house." But they heard these words gladly.
Hermas 4[114]:1 He said then to me, "Quit you like a man in this
ministry; declare to every man the mighty works of the Lord, and thou
shalt have favor in this ministry. Whosoever therefore shall walk in these
commandments, shall live and be happy in his life; but whosoever shall
neglect them, shall not live, and shall be unhappy in his life.
Hermas
4[114]:2 Charge all men who are able to do right, that they cease not to
practice good works; for it is useful for them. I say moreover that every
man ought to be rescued from misfortune; for he that hath need, and
suffereth misfortune in his daily life, is in great torment and want.
Hermas 4[114]:3 Whosoever therefore rescueth from penury a life of this
kind, winneth great joy for himself. For he who is harassed by misfortune
of this sort is afflicted and tortured with equal torment as one who is in
chains. For many men on account of calamities of this kind, because they
can bear them no longer, lay violent hands on themselves. He then who
knows the calamity of a man of this kind and rescueth him not, committeth
great sin, and becometh guilty of the man's blood.
Hermas 4[114]:4 Do
therefore good works, whoever of you have received (benefits) from the
Lord, lest, while ye delay to do them, the building of the tower be
completed. For it is on your account that the work of the building has
been interrupted. Unless then ye hasten to do right, the tower will be
completed, and ye shut out."
Hermas 4[114]:5 When then he had
finished speaking with me, he rose from the couch and departed, taking
with him the shepherd and the virgins. He said however unto me, that he
would send the shepherd and the virgins back again to my house.