{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_6515/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_6515","id":"gutenberg_6515","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/6515","summary":null,"tags":["Apocryphal books (New Testament)","Category: History - Religious","Category: Religion/Spirituality"],"text":"This eBook was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net>\nAdditional proofing was done by Curtis A. Weyant\n\n\n\n\n\n                                  THE\n                              SUPPRESSED\n                          GOSPELS AND EPISTLES\n                            OF THE ORIGINAL\n                             NEW TESTAMENT\n                                   OF\n                            JESUS THE CHRIST\n\n          AND OTHER PORTIONS OF THE ANCIENT HOLY SCRIPTURES.\n                       NOW EXTANT, ATTRIBUTED TO\n                  HIS APOSTLES, AND THEIR DISCIPLES,\n       AND VENERATED BY THE PRIMITIVE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES DURING\n                       THE FIRST FOUR CENTURIES,\n                 BUT SINCE, AFTER VIOLENT DISPUTATIONS\n                            FORBIDDEN BY THE\n                     BISHOPS OF THE NICENE COUNCIL,\n                IN THE REIGN OF THE EMPEROR CONSTANTINE\n             AND OMITTED FROM THE CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANT\n            EDITIONS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, BY ITS COMPILERS\n\n         TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL TONGUES, WITH HISTORICAL\n                   REFERENCES TO THEIR AUTHENTICITY,\n\n                                  BY\n                            ARCHBISHOP WAKE\n                               AND OTHER\n                            LEARNED DIVINES\n\n\n\n\n\n                         THE FIRST PART OF THE\n                   BOOK OF HERMAS CALLED HIS VISION.\n\n\nVISION I.\n\n     1 Against filthy and proud thoughts;\n     20 also the neglect of Hermas in chastising his children.\n\nHE who had bred me up sold a\ncertain young maid at Rome;\nwhom when I saw many years\nafter, I remembered her, and\nbegan to love her as a sister.\nIt happened some time afterwards,\nthat I saw her washing in the river.\nTyber; and I reached out my hand\nunto her, and brought her out of\nthe river,\n\n2  And when I saw her I thought\nwith myself, saying, How happy\nshould I be if I had such a wife,\nboth for beauty and manners.\nThis I thought with myself; nor\ndid I think any thing more. But\nnot long after, as I was walking,\nand musing on these thoughts, I\nbegan to honour this creature of\nGod, thinking with myself; how\nnoble and beautiful she was.\n\n3  And when I had walked a little,\nI fell asleep; and the spirit\ncaught me away, and carried me\nthrough a certain place towards\nthe right hand, through which no\nman could pass. It was a place\namong rocks, very steep, and\nunpassable for water.\n\n4  When I was past this place,\nI came into a plain; and there\nfalling down upon my knees, I\nbegan to pray unto the Lord, and\nto confess my sins.\n\n5  And as I was praying, the\nheaven was opened, and I saw the\nwoman which I had coveted,\nsaluting me from heaven, and\nsaying, Hermas, hail! and I looking\nupon her, answered, Lady, what\ndost thou do here? She answered\nme, I am taken up hither to accuse\nthee of sin before the Lord.\n\n6  Lady, said I, wilt thou\nconvince me? No, said she: but\nhear the words which I am about\nto speak unto thee. God who\ndwelleth in heaven, and hath made\nall things out of nothing, and\nhath multiplied them for his holy\nchurch's sake, is angry with thee\nbecause thou hast sinned against\nme.\n\n7  And I answering said unto\nher, Lady, if I have sinned against\nthee, tell me where, or in what\nplace, or when did I ever speak\nan unseemly or dishonest word\nunto thee?\n\n8  Have I not always esteemed\nthee as a lady? Have I not always\nreverenced thee as a sister? Why\nthen dost thou imagine these\nwicked things against me?\n\n9  Then she, smiling upon me,\nsaid: the desire of naughtiness\nhas risen up in thy heart. Does\nit not seem to thee to be an ill\nthing for a righteous man to have\nan evil desire rise up in his heart.\n\n10  It is indeed a sin, and that a\nvery great sin, to such a one; for\na righteous man thinketh that\nwhich is righteous. And whilst\nhe does so, and walketh uprightly,\nhe shall have the Lord in heaven\nfavourable unto him in all his\nbusiness.\n\n11  But as for those who think\nwickedly in their hearts, they take\nto themselves death and captivity;\nand especially those who love this\npresent world, and glory in their\nriches, and regard not the good\nthings that are to come; their\nsouls wander up and down and\nknow not where to fix.\n\n12  Now this is the case of such\nas are double-minded, who trust\nnot in the Lord, and despise and\nneglect their own life.\n\n13  But do thou pray unto the\nLord, and he will heal thy sins,\nand the sins of thy whole house,\nand of all his saints.\n\n14  As soon as she had spoken\nthese words the heaven were shut,\nand I remained utterly swallowed\nup with sadness and fear: and\nsaid within myself, if this be laid\nagainst me for sin, how can I be\nsaved.\n\n15  Or how should I ever be able\nto entreat the Lord for my many\nand great sins? With what words\nshall I beseech him to be merciful\nunto me?\n\n16  As I was thinking over these\nthings, and meditating in myself\nupon them, behold a chair was\nset over against me of the whitest\nwool, as bright as snow.\n\n17  And there came an old woman\nin a bright garment, having\na book in her hand, and sat alone,\nand saluted me, saying, Hermas,\nhail! and I being full of sorrow\nand weeping, answered, Hail Lady!\n\n18  And she said unto me, Why\nart thou sad, Hermas, who wert\nwont to be patient, and modest,\nand always cheerful? I answered,\nand said to her, Lady, a reproach\nhas been laid to my charge by an\nexcellent woman, who tells me\nthat I have sinned against her.\n\n19  She replied, Far be any such\nthing from the servant of God.\nBut it may be the desire of her\nhas risen up in thy heart? For\nindeed such a thought maketh the\nservants of God guilty of sin.\n\n20  Nor ought such a detestable\nthought to be in the servant of\nGod: nor should he who is approved\nby the Spirit desire that which\nis evil; but especially Hermas,\nwho contains himself from all\nwicked lusts, and is full of all\nsimplicity, and of great innocence.\n\n21  Nevertheless the Lord is\nnot so much angry with thee for\nthine own sake, as upon the\naccount of thy house, which has\ncommitted wickedness against the\nLord, and against their parents.\n\n22  And for that out of thy\nfondness towards thy sons, thou\nhast not admonished thy house,\nbut hast permitted them to live\nwickedly; for this cause the Lord\nis angry with thee: but he will heal\nall the evils that are done in thy\nhouse. For through their sins\nand iniquities, thou art wholly\nconsumed in secular affairs.\n\n23  But now the mercy of God\nhath taken compassion upon thee,\nand upon thine house, and hath\ngreatly comforted thee. Only\nas for thee, do not wander, but be\nof an even mind, and comfort thy\nhouse.\n\n24  As the workman bringing\nforth his work, offers it to\nwhomsoever he pleaseth; so shalt\nthou by teaching every day what\nis just, cut off a great sin.\nWherefore cease not to admonish thy\nsons, for the Lord knows that they\nwill repent with all their heart,\nand they shall be written in the\nbook of life.\n\n25  And when she had said this,\nshe added unto me; Wilt thou\nhear me read? I answered her,\nLady, I will.\n\n26  Hear then, said she;\nand opening the book she read,\ngloriously, greatly. and wonderfully,\nsuch things as I could not keep in\nmy memory. For they were terrible\nwords, such as no man could bear.\n\n27  How it be I committed her\nlast words to my remembrance;\nfor they were but few, and of great\nuse to us:--\n\n28  Behold the mighty Lord, who\nby his invisible power, and with\nhis excellent wisdom made the\nworld, and by his glorious counsel\nbeautified his creature, and with\nthe word of his strength fixed the\nheaven, and founded the earth\nupon the waters; and by his\npowerful virtue established the\nHoly Church, which he hath\nblessed.\n\n29  Behold he will remove the\nheavens, and the mountains, the\nhills, and the seas; and all things\nshall be made plain for his elect;\nthat he may render unto them the\npromise which he has promised,\nwith much honour and joy; if so\nbe that they shall keep the\ncommandments of God, which they\nhave received with great faith.\n\n30  And when she had made an end\nof reading, she rose out of the\nchair; and behold four young men\ncame, and carried the chair to\nthe east.\n\n31  And she called me unto her,\nand touched my breast, and said\nunto me, Did my reading please\nthee? I answered, Lady, these\nlast things please me; but what\nwent before was severe and hard.\n\n32  She said unto me, these last\nthings are for the righteous, but\nthe foregoing for the revolters and\nheathen.\n\n33  And as she was talking with\nme, two men appeared, and took\nher upon their shoulders, and\nwent to the east where the chair\nwas.\n\n34  And she went cheerfully\naway; and as she was going, said\nunto me, Hermas, be of good\ncheer.\n\n\n\nVISION II.\n\n     Again, of his neglect in correcting his talkative wife;\n     and of his lewd sons.\n\nAS I was on the way to Cuma,\nabout the same time that I\nwent the year before, I began to\ncall to mind the vision I formerly\nhad. And again the spirit carried\nme away, and brought me into the\nsame place, in which I had been\nthe year before.\n\n2  And when I was come into the\nplace, I fell down upon my knees,\nand began to pray unto the Lord,\nand to glorify his name, that he\nhad esteemed me worthy, and had\nmanifested unto me my former\nsins.\n\n3  And when I arose from prayer,\nbehold I saw over against me the\nold woman whom I had seen the\nlast year, walking and reading\nin a certain book.\n\n4  And she said unto me, Canst\nthou tell these things to the\nelect of God? I answered and said\nunto her, Lady, I cannot retain\nso many things in my memory, but\ngive me the book, and I will write\nthem down.\n\n5  Take it, says she, and see that\nthou restore it again to me.\n\n6  As soon as I had received it,\nI went aside into a certain place\nof the field, and transcribe every\nletter, for I found no syllables.\n\n7  And as soon as I had finished\nwhat was written in the book, the\nbook was suddenly caught out of\nmy hand, but by whom I saw not.\n\n8  After fifteen days, when I\nhad fasted, and entreated the Lord\nwith all earnestness, the knowledge\nof the writing was revealed unto me.\nNow the writing was this:--\n\n9  Thy seed, O Hermas! hath\nsinned against the Lord, and have\nbetrayed their parents, through\ntheir great wickedness. And they\nhave been called the betrayers of\ntheir parents, and have gone on in\ntheir treachery.\n\n10  And now have they added\nlewdness to their other sins, and\nthe pollutions of their naughtiness:\nthus have they filled up the measure\nof their iniquities. But do thou\nupbraid thy sons with all these\nwords; and thy wife, who shall be\nas thy sister; and let her learn\nto refrain her tongue, with which\nshe calumniates.\n\n11  And when she shall hear these\nthings, she will refrain herself,\nand shall obtain mercy.\n\n12  And they also shall be\ninstructed, when thou shalt have\nreproached them with these words,\nwhich the Lord has commanded to\nbe revealed unto them.\n\n13  Then shall their sins be\nforgiven, which they have heretofore\ncommitted, and the sins of all the\nsaints who have sinned even unto\nthis day; if they shall repent with\nall their hearts, and remove all\ndoubts out of their hearts.\n\n14  For the Lord hath sworn by\nhis glory concerning his elect,\nhaving determined this very time,\nthat if any one shall even now\nsin, he shall not be saved.\n\n15  For the repentance of the\nrighteous has its end; the days of\nrepentance are fulfilled to all the\nsaints; but to the heathen, there\nis repentance even unto the last\nday.\n\n16  Thou shalt therefore say to\nthose who are over the church,\nthat they order their ways in\nrighteousness; so that they may\nfully receive the promise with\nmuch glory.\n\n17  Stand fast therefore ye that\nwork righteousness and continue\nto do it, that your departure may\nbe with the holy angels.\n\n18  Happy are ye, as many as\nshall endure the great trial that is\nat hand, and whosoever shall not\ndeny his life.\n\n19  For the Lord hath sworn by\nhis Son, that whoso, denieth his\nSon and HIM, being afraid of his\nlife, he will also deny him in the\nworld that is to come.\n\n20  But those who shall never\ndeny him, he will of his exceeding\ngreat mercy be favourable unto\nthem.\n\n21 But thou, O Hermas! remember\nnot the evils which thy sons have\ndone, neither neglect thy sister,\nbut take care that they amend of\ntheir former sins.\n\n22  For they will be instructed\nby this doctrine, if thou shalt not\nbe mindful of what they have done\nwickedly.\n\n23  For the remembrance of evils\nworketh death, but the forgetting\nof them eternal life.\n\n24  But thou, O Hermas! hast\nundergone a great many worldly\ntroubles for the offences of thy\nhouse, because thou hast neglected\nthem, as things that did not belong\nunto thee; and thou art wholly\ntaken up with thy great business.\n\n25  Nevertheless, for this cause\nshalt thou be saved, that thou hast\nnot departed from the living God,\nand thy simplicity and singular\ncontinency shall preserve thee, if\nthou shalt continue in them.\n\n26  Yes, they shall save all such\nas do such things, and walk in\ninnocence and simplicity.\n\n27 They who are of this kind\nshall prevail against all impiety,\nand continue until life eternal.\n\n28  Happy are all they that do\nrighteousness, they shall not be\nconsumed for ever.\n\n29  But thou wilt say, Behold\nthere is a great trial coming. If\nit seem good to thee, deny him\nagain.\n\n30  The Lord is nigh to them that\nturn to him, as it is written in\nthe book of Heldam and Modal,\nwho prophesied to the people of\nIsrael in the wilderness.\n\n31  Moreover, brethren, it was\nrevealed to me, as I was sleeping,\nby a very goodly young man, saying\nunto me, What thinkest thou of that\nold woman from whom thou receivedst\nthe book; who is she? I answered,\na Sybil.\n\n32  Thou art mistaken said he,\nshe is not. I replied, Who is she\nthen, sir? He answered me, It is\nthe church of God.\n\n33  And I said unto him, Why\nthen does she appear old? She is\ntherefore, said he, an old woman,\nbecause she was the first of all\nthe creation, and the world was\nmade for her.\n\n34  After this I saw a vision at\nhome in my own house, and the\nold woman, whom I had seen before,\ncame to me and asked me whether\nI had yet delivered her book to\nthe elders of the church? And\nI answered, that I had not yet.\n\n35  She replied, Thou hast well\ndone, for I have certain words\nmore to tell thee. But when I\nshall have finished all the words,\nthey shall be clearly understood\nby the elect.\n\n36 And thou shalt write two\nbooks, and send one to Clement\nand one to Grapte. For Clement\nshall send it to the foreign cities,\nbecause it is permitted to him so\nto do: but Grapte shall admonish\nthe widows and orphans.\n\n37  But thou shalt read in this\ncity with the elders of the church.\n\n\n\nVISION III.\n\n     Of the building of the church triumphant,\n     and of the several sorts of reprobates.\n\nTHE vision which I saw, brethren,\nwas this.\n\n2  When I had often fasted and\nprayed unto the Lord, that he\nwould manifest unto me the\nrevelation, which he had promised\nby the old woman to show unto me;\nthe same night she appeared unto\nme, and said unto me,\n\n3  Because thou dost thus afflict\nthyself, and art so desirous to know\nall things, come into the field,\nwhere thou wilt, and about the\nsixth hour, I will appear unto thee,\nand show thee what thou must\nsee.\n\n4  I asked her, saying; Lady,\ninto what part of the field? She\nanswered, wherever thou wilt, only\nchoose a good and a private place.\nAnd before I began to speak and\ntell her the place, she said unto\nme; I will come where thou wilt.\n\n5  I was therefore, brethren in\nthe field and I observed the hours,\nand came into the place where I\nhad appointed her to come.\n\n6  And I beheld a bench placed;\nit was a linen pillow, and over it\nspread a covering of fine linen.\n\n7  When I saw these things ordered\nin this manner, and that there was\nnobody in the place, I began to be\nastonished, and my hair stood on end,\nand a, kind of horror seized me;\nfor I was alone.\n\n8  But being come to myself,\nand calling to mind the glory of\nGod, and taking courage, I fell\ndown upon my knees and began\nagain to confess my sins as before.\n\n9  And whilst I was doing this,\nthe old woman came thither with\nthe six young men whom I had\nseen before, and stood behind me\nas I was praying, and heard me\npraying and confessing my sins\nunto the Lord.\n\n10  And touching me, she said;\nLeave off praying now only for thy\nsins; pray also for righteousness,\nthat thou mayest receive a part of\nit in thy house.\n\n11  And she lifted me up from\nthe place, and took me by the\nhand, and brought me to the seat;\nand said to the young men, go,\nand build.\n\n12  As soon as they were departed,\nand we were alone, she said unto me;\nsit here. I answered her; Lady,\nlet those who are elder sit first.\nShe replied, Sit down as I bid you.\n\n13  And when I would have sat\non the right side, she suffered me\nnot, but made a sign to me with\nher hand, that I should sit on the\nleft.\n\n14  As I was therefore musing,\nand full of sorrow, that she would\nnot suffer me to sit on the right\nside, she said unto me, Hermas,\nwhy art thou sad?\n\n15  The place which is on the\nright hand is theirs who have\nalready attained unto God, and have\nsuffered for his name-sake. But\nthere is yet a great deal remaining\nunto thee, before thou canst sit\nwith them.\n\n16  But continue as thou doest,\nin thy sincerity, and thou shalt sit\nwith them; as all others shall,\nwho do their works, and shall bear\nwhat they have borne.\n\n17  I said to her; Lady, I would\nknow what it is that they have\nsuffered? Hear then, said she:\nwild beasts, scourgings,\nimprisonments, and crosses\nfor his name-sake.\n\n18  For this cause the right hand\nof holiness belongs to them, and\nto all others as many as shall\nsuffer for the name of God; but\nthe left belongs to the rest.\n\n19  Howbeit the gifts and the\npromises belong to both, to them\non the right, and to those on the\nleft hand; only that sitting on the\nright hand they have some glory\nabove the others.\n\n20  But thou art desirous to sit\non the right hand with them, and\nyet thy defects are many. But\nthou shalt be purged from thy\ndefects, as also all who doubt not\nshall be cleansed from all the sins\nwhich they have committed unto\nthis day.\n\n21  And when she had said this\nshe would have departed.\n\n22  Wherefore, falling down before\nher feet, I began to entreat her,\nfor the Lord's sake, that she\nwould show me the vision which\nshe had promised.\n\n23  Then she again took me by\nthe hand, and lifted me up, and\nmade me sit upon the seat at the\nleft side; and holding up a certain\nbright wand, said unto me, Seest\nthou that great thing? I replied,\nLady, I see nothing.\n\n24  She answered, Dost thou not\nsee over against thee a great tower,\nwhich is built upon the water with\nbright square stones?\n\n25  For the tower was built upon\na square by these six young men\nthat came with her.\n\n26  But many thousand of other\nmen brought stones; some drew\nthem out of the deep, others\ncarried them from the ground,\nand gave them to the six young men;\nand they took them and built.\n\n27  As for those stones which\nwere drawn out of the deep, they\nput them all into the building;\nfor they were polished, and their\nsquares exactly answered one another,\nand so one was joined in such wise\nto the other, that there was no\nspace to be seen where they\njoined, insomuch that the whole\ntower appeared to be built as it\nwere of one stone.\n\n28  But as for the other stones\nthat were taken off from the\nground, some of them they rejected,\nothers they fitted into the building.\n\n29  As for those which were rejected,\nsome they cut out, and cast them\nat a distance from the tower;\nbut many others of them lay round\nabout the tower, which they made\nno use of in the building.\n\n30  For some of these were\nrough, others had clefts in them,\nothers were white and round, not\nproper for the building of the\ntower.\n\n31  But I saw the other stones\ncast afar off from the tower, and\nfalling into the high-way, and yet\nnot continuing in the way, but\nwere rolled from the way into a\ndesert place.\n\n32  Others I saw falling into the\nfire and burning; others fell near\nthe water, yet could not roll\nthemselves into it, though very\ndesirous to fall into the water.\n\n33  And when she had showed\nme these things she would have\ndeparted; but I said to her, Lady,\nwhat doth it profit me to see these\nthings, and not understand what\nthey mean?\n\n34  She answered and said unto\nme; You are very cunning, in\nthat you are desirous to know\nthose things which relate to the\ntower. Yea, said I, lady, that I\nmay declare them unto the brethren,\nand they may rejoice, and hearing\nthese things may glorify God\nwith great glory.\n\n35  Then she said, Many indeed\nshall hear them, and when they\nshall have heard them, some shall\nrejoice, and others weep. And\nyet even these, if they shall\nrepent, shall rejoice too.\n\n36  Hear therefore what I shall\nsay concerning the parable of the\ntower, and after this be no longer\nimportunate with me about the\nrevelation.\n\n37  For these revelations have\nan end, seeing they are fulfilled.\nBut thou dost not leave off to\ndesire revelations, for thou art\nvery urgent.\n\n38  As for the tower which thou\nseest built, it is myself, namely,\nthe church, which have appeared\nto thee both now and heretofore.\nWherefore ask what thou wilt\nconcerning the tower, and I will\nreveal it unto thee, that thou\nmayest rejoice with the saints.\n\n39  I said unto her, Lady,\nbecause thou hast thought me once\nworthy to receive from thee the\nrevelation of all these things,\ndeclare them unto me.\n\n40  She answered me, Whatsoever\nis fit to be revealed unto thee\nshall be revealed: only yet thy\nheart be with the Lord, and doubt\nnot, whatsoever thou shalt see.\n\n41  I asked her, Lady, why is the\ntower built upon the water? She\nreplied, I said before to thee that\nthou wert very wise to inquire\ndiligently concerning the building,\ntherefore thou shalt find the truth.\n\n42  Hear therefore why the tower\nis built upon the water: because\nyour life is and shall be saved by\nwater. For it is founded by the\nword of the almighty and honourable\nname, and is supported by the\ninvisible power and virtue of God.\n\n43 And I answering, said\nunto her, These things are very\nadmirable; but, lady, who are\nthose six young men that build?\n\n44  They are, said she, the angels\nof God, who were first appointed,\nand to whom the Lord has delivered\nall his creatures, to frame and\nbuild them up, and to rule over\nthem. For by these the building\nof the tower shall be finished.\n\n45  And who are the rest who\nbring them stones?\n\n46  They also are the holy angels\nof the Lord; but the others are\nmore excellent than these. Wherefore\nwhen the whole building of the\ntower shall be finished, they\nshall all feast together beside\nthe tower, and shall glorify God,\nbecause the structure of the\ntower is finished.\n\n47  I asked her, saying, I would\nknow the condition of the stones,\nand what the meaning of them\nis?\n\n48  She answering, said unto\nme, Art thou better than all others\nthat this should be revealed unto\nthee? For others are both before\nthee and better than thou art,\nto whom these visions should be\nmade manifest.\n\n49  Nevertheless, that the name\nof God may be glorified, it has been\nshown and shall be revealed unto\nthee, for the sake of those who are\ndoubtful, and think in their hearts\nwhether these things are so or not.\n\n50  Tell them that all these\nthings are true, and that there is\nnothing in them that is not true\nbut all are firm and truly\nestablished.\n\n51  Hear now then concerning\nthe stones that are in the building.\n\n52  The square and white stones\nwhich agree exactly in their joints,\nare the apostles, and bishops, and\ndoctors, and ministers, who\nthrough the mercy of God have\ncome in, and governed, and taught\nand ministered holily and modestly\nto the elect of God, both they\nthat have fallen asleep, and which\nyet remain; and have always\nagreed with them, and have had\npeace within themselves, and have\nheard each other.\n\n53  For which cause their joints\nexactly meet together in the building\nof the tower.\n\n54  They which are drawn out\nof the deep and put into the\nbuilding, and whose joints agree\nwith the other stones which are\nalready built, are those which are\nalready fallen asleep, and have\nsuffered for the sake of the Lord's\nname.\n\n55  And what are the other\nstones, lady, that are brought\nfrom the earth? I would know\nwhat are they.\n\n56  She answered, They which\nlie upon the ground and are not\npolished, are those which God has\napproved, because they have\nwalked in I the law of the Lord,\nand directed their ways in his\ncommandments.\n\n57 They which are brought and\nput in the building of the tower,\nare the young in faith and the\nfaithful. And these are admonished\nby the angels to do well because\niniquity is not found in them.\n\n58  But who are those whom they\nrejected, and laid beside the tower?\n\n59  They are such as have sinned\nand are willing to repent; for\nwhich cause they are not cast far\nfrom the tower, because they will\nbe useful for the building, if they\nshall repent.\n\n60  They therefore that are yet\nto repent, if they repent they shall\nbecome strong in the faith; that\nis, if they repent now, whilst the\ntower is building. For if the\nbuilding shall be finished there\nwill then be no place for them to\nbe put in, but they shall be rejected;\nfor he only has this privilege who\nshall now be put into the tower.\n\n61   But would you know who\nthey are that were cut out, and\ncast afar off from the tower?\nLady said I, I desire it.\n\n62  They are the children of iniquity,\nwho believed only in hypocrisy,\nand departed not from  their evil\nways; for this cause they shall not\nbe saved, because they are not of\nany use in the building by reason\nof their sins.\n\n63 Wherefore they are cut out,\nand cast afar off, because of the\nanger of the Lord, and because\nthey have provoked him to anger\nagainst them.\n\n64  As for the great number of\nother stones which thou hast seen\nplaced about the tower, but now\nput into the building; those which\nare rugged, are they who have\nknown the truth, but have not\ncontinued in it, nor been joined\nto the saints, and therefore are\nunprofitable.\n\n65  Those that have clefts in\nthem, are they that keep up discord\nin their hearts against each other,\nand live not in peace; that are\nfriendly when present with their\nbrethren, but as soon as they are\ndeparted from one another, their\nwickedness still continues in\ntheir hearts: these are the clefts\nwhich are seen in those stones.\n\n66  Those that are maimed and\nshort, are they who have believed\nindeed, but still are in great\nmeasure full of wickedness; for\nthis cause they are maimed and\nnot whole.\n\n67  But what are the white and\nround stones, lady, and which are\nnot proper for the building of the\ntower?\n\n68  She answering said unto\nme: How long wilt thou continue\nfoolish and without understanding,\nasking everything and discerning\nnothing?\n\n69  They are such as have faith\nindeed, but have withal the riches\nof this present world. When\ntherefore any troubles arise, for\nthe sake of their riches and traffic,\nthey deny the Lord.\n\n70  I answering, said unto her,\nWhen therefore will they be\nprofitable to the Lord? When their\nriches shall be cut away, says she,\nin which they take delight, then\nthey will be profitable unto the\nLord for his building.\n\n71  For as a round stone, unless\nit be cut away and is cast somewhat\nof its bulk, cannot be made square,\nso they who are rich in this world;\nunless their riches be pared off;\ncannot be made profitable unto the\nLord.\n\n72  Learn this from thy own\nexperience: when thou wert rich,\nthou wast unprofitable; but now\nthou art profitable, and fit for the\nlife which thou hast undertaken;\nfor thou also once was one of\nthose stones.\n\n73 As for the rest of the stones\nwhich thou sawest cast afar\noff from the tower, and running in\nthe way, and tumbled out of the\nway into desert places; they are\nsuch as have believed indeed,\nbut through their doubting have\nforsaken the true way, thinking that\nthey could find a better. But they\nwander and are miserable, going\ninto desolate ways.\n\n74  Then for those stones which\nfell into the fire and were burnt,\nthey are those who have for ever\ndeparted from the living God;\nnor doth it ever come into their\nhearts to repent, by reason of the\naffection which they bear to their\nlusts and wickedness which they\ncommit.\n\n75  And what are the rest which\nfell by the water, and could not\nroll into the water?\n\n76  They are such as have heard\nthe word, and were willing to be\nbaptised in the name of the Lord;\nbut considering the great holiness\nwhich the truth requires, have\nwithdrawn themselves, an walked\nagain after wicked lusts.\n\n77  Thus she finished the\nexplanation of the tower.\n\n78 But I being still urgent,\nasked her, Is there repentance\nallowed to all those stones which\nare thus cast away, and were not\nsuitable to the building of the\ntower; and shall they find place\nin this tower?\n\n79  They may repent, said she,\nyet they cannot come into this\ntower; but, they shall be placed\nin a much lower rank, and then\nonly after they shall have been\nafflicted and fulfilled the days of\ntheir sins.\n\n80  And for this cause they shall\nbe removed, because they have\nreceived the word of righteousness:\nand then they shall be translated\nfrom their afflictions, if they\nshall have a true sense in their\nhearts of what they have done amiss.\n\n81  But if they shall not have\nthis sense in their hearts, they\nshall not be saved by reason of\nthe hardness of their hearts.\n\n82  When therefore I had done\nasking her concerning all these\nthings, she said unto me, Wilt\nthou see something else? And\nbeing desirous of seeing it,\nI became very cheerful of\ncountenances.\n\n83  She therefore looking back\nupon me, and smiling a little, said\nunto me, Seest thou seven women\nabout the tower? Lady, said I,\nI see them.\n\n84  This tower, replied she, is\nsupported by them, according to\nthe command of the Lord: hear\ntherefore the effects of them.\n\n85  The first of them, which\nholds fast with her hand, is called\nFaith; The next, which is girt\nup, and looks manly, is named\nAbstinence: she is the daughter\nof Faith.\n\n86  Whosoever therefore shall\nfollow her shall be happy in all\nhis life, because he shall abstain\nfrom all evil works, believing that\nif he shall contain himself from\nall concupiscence, he shall be\nthe heir of eternal life. And\nwhat, lady, said I, are the other\nfive?\n\n87  They are, replied she, the\ndaughters of one another. The\nfirst of them is called Simplicity;\nthe next Innocence; the third\nModesty; then Discipline; and\nthe last of all is Charity. When\ntherefore thou shalt have fulfilled\nthe works of their mother, thou\nshalt be able to do all things.\n\n88  Lady, said I, I would know\nwhat particular virtue every one\nof these has.\n\n89  Hear then, replied she;\nthey have equal virtues, and their\nvirtues are knit together, and\nfollow one another as they were\nborn.\n\n90  From Faith proceeds Abstinence;\nfrom Abstinence, Simplicity; from\nSimplicity, Innocence; from Innocence,\nModesty; from Modesty, Discipline\nand Charity. Therefore the works\nof these are holy, and chaste, and\nright.\n\n91  Whoever therefore shall\nserve these, and hold fast to their\nworks, he shall have his dwelling\nin the tower with the saints of\nGod.\n\n92  Then I asked her concerning\nthe times, whether the end were\nnow at hand?\n\n93  But she cried out with a loud\nvoice, saying, O foolish man!\nDost thou not see the tower yet a\nbuilding? When therefore the\ntower shall be finished, and built,\nit shall have an end; and indeed\nit shall soon be accomplished.\n\n94  But do not ask me any more\nquestions. What has been said\nmay suffice thee and all the saints\nfor the refreshment of your spirits.\nFor these things have not been\nrevealed to thee only, but that\nthou mayest make them manifest\nunto all.\n\n95  For therefore, O Hermas,\nafter three days thou must understand\nthese words which I begin\nto speak unto thee, that thou\nmayest speak them in the ears of\nthe saints; that when thou shall\nhave heard and done them, they\nmay be cleansed from their\niniquities, and thou together\nwith them.\n\n96  Hear me therefore, O my\nsons! I have bred you up in much\nsimplicity, and innocency, and\nmodesty, for the love of God,\nwhich has dropped down upon\nyou in righteousness, that you\nshould be sanctified and justified\nfrom all sin and wickedness; but\nye will not cease from your evil\ndoings.\n\n97  Now therefore hearken unto\nme, and have peace one with another,\nand visit one another, and receive\none another, and do not enjoy\nthe creatures of God alone.\n\n98  Give freely to them that are\nin need. For some by too free\nfeeding contract an infirmity in\ntheir flesh, and do injury to their\nbodies; whilst the flesh of others,\nwho have not food, withers away,\nbecause they want sufficient\nnourishment, and the bodies are\nconsumed.\n\n99  Wherefore this intemperance\nis hurtful to you, who have, and\ndo not contribute to them that\nwant. Prepare for the judgment\nthat is about to come upon you.\n\n100  Ye that are the more eminent,\nsearch out them that are hungry,\nwhilst the tower is yet unfinished.\nFor when the tower shall be finished,\nye shall be willing to do good,\nand shall not find any place in it.\n\n101  Beware, therefore, ye that\nglory in your riches, lest perhaps\nthey groan who are in want, and\ntheir sighing come up unto God,\nand ye be shut out with your goods\nwithout the gate of the tower.\n\n102  Behold I now warn you who\nare set over the church, and love\nthe highest seats, be not ye like\nunto those that work mischief.\n\n103  And they indeed carry about\ntheir poison in boxes, but ye\ncontain your poison and infection\nin your hearts, and will not purge\nthem, and mix your sense with a\npure heart, that ye might find\nmercy with the Great King.\n\n104  Take heed, my children,\nthat your dissensions deprive you\nnot of your lives. How will ye\ninstruct the elect of God, when\nye yourselves want correction?\nWherefore admonish one another,\nand be at peace among yourselves,\nthat I, standing before your\nFather, may give an account\nof you unto the Lord.\n\n105  And when she had made\nan end of talking with me, the six\nyoung men that built, came and\ncarried her to the tower; and four\nothers took up the seat on which\nshe sat, and they also went away\nagain to the tower. I saw not the\nfaces of these, for their backs\nwere towards me.\n\n106  As she was going away, I\nasked her, that she would reveal\nto me what concerned the three\nforms, in which she had appeared\nunto me.\n\n107  But she answering said unto\nme, concerning these things\nthou must ask some other, that\nthey may be revealed unto thee.\n\n108  Now, brethren, in the first\nvision the last year, she appeared\nunto me exceedingly old, and\nsitting in a chair.\n\n109  In another vision, she had\nindeed a youthful face, but her\nflesh and hair were old; but she\ntalked with me standing, and was\nmore cheerful than the first time.\n\n110  In the third vision, she was\nin all respects much younger, and\ncomely to the eye; only she had\nthe hair of an aged person: yet\nshe looked cheerful, and sat upon\na seat.\n\n111  I was therefore very sad\nconcerning these things, until I\nmight understand the vision.\n\n112  Wherefore I saw the same\nold woman in a vision of the night\nsaying unto me, All prayer needeth\nhumiliation. Fast, therefore, and\nthou shalt learn from the Lord\nthat which thou dost ask. I fasted\ntherefore one day.\n\n113  The same night a young\nman appeared to me and said,\nWhy dost thou thus often desire\nRevelations in thy prayers? Take\nheed that by asking many things,\nthou hurt not the body. Let these\nRevelations suffice thee.\n\n114  Canst thou see more notable\nRevelations than those which\nthou hast already received?\n\n115  I answered and said unto\nhim, Sir, I only ask this one\nthing upon the account of the\nthree figures of the old woman\nthat appeared to me, that the\nRevelation may be complete.\n\n116  He answered me, You are\nnot without understanding, but\nyour doubts make you so; for as\nmuch as you have not your heart\nwith the Lord.\n\n117  I replied and said, But we\nshall learn these things more\ncarefully from you.\n\n118  Hear then, says he, concerning\nthe figures about which you inquire.\n\n119  To begin; in the first vision\nshe appeared to thee in the shape\nof an old woman sitting in, a chair,\nbecause your old spirit was decayed,\nand without strength, by reason\nof your infirmities, and the\ndoubtfulness of your heart.\n\n120  For as they who are old\nhave no hope of renewing\nthemselves, nor expect any thing\nbut their departure; so you being\nweakened through your worldly\naffairs gave yourself up to sloth,\nand cast not away your solicitude\nfrom yourself upon the Lord: and\nyour sense was confused, and you\ngrew old in your sadness.\n\n121  But, sir, I would know why\nshe sat upon a chair?\n\n122  He answered, because every\none that is weak sitteth upon a\nchair by reason of his infirmity,\nthat his weakness may be upheld.\nBehold therefore the figure of the\nfirst vision.\n\n123  In the second vision you\nsaw her standing, and having a\nyouthful face, and more cheerful\nthan her former; but her flesh\nand her hair were ancient. Hear,\nsaid he, this parable also.\n\n124  When any one grows old,\nhe despairs of himself by reason\nof his infirmity and poverty, and\nexpects nothing but the last day of\nhis life.\n\n125  But on a sudden an inheritance\nis left to him, and he hears of it,\nand rises: and being become\ncheerful, be puts on new strength.\nAnd now he no longer sits down,\nbut stands, and is delivered from\nhis former sorrow; and sits not,\nbut acts manfully.\n\n126  So you, having heard the\nRevelation which God revealed\nunto you, because God had\ncompassion upon you, and renewed\nyour spirit, both laid aside your\ninfirmities, and strength came to\nyou, and you grew strong in the\nfaith; and God, seeing your\nstrength, rejoiced.\n\n127  For this cause he showed\nyou the building of the tower,\nand will show other things unto you,\nif you shall have peace with all\nyour heart among each other.\n\n128  But in the third vision you\nsaw her yet younger, fair and\ncheerful, and of a serene\ncountenance.\n\n129  For, as if some good news\ncomes to him that is sad, he\nstraightway forgets his sadness,\nand regards nothing else but the\ngood news which he has heard;\nand for the rest he is comforted,\nand his spirit is renewed through\nthe joy which he has received\neven so you have been refreshed\nin your spirit by seeing these good\nthings.\n\n130  And for that you saw her\nsitting upon a bench, it denotes a\nstrong position; because a bench\nhas four feet, and stands strongly.\nAnd even the world itself is upheld\nby the four elements.\n\n131  They therefore that repent\nperfectly, shall be young; and\nthey that turn from their sins\nwith their whole heart, shall\nbe established.\n\n132  And now you have the\nRevelation fully, ask no more\nto have any thing farther\nrevealed unto you.\n\n133  But if any thing is to be\nrevealed, it shall be made manifest\nunto you.\n\n\n\nVISION IV.\n\n     Of the trial, and tribulation that is about\n     to come upon men.\n\nI SAW a vision brethren, twenty\ndays after the former vision;\na representation of the tribulation\nthat is at hand. I was walking in\nthe field way.\n\n2  Now from the public way to\nthe place whither I went is about\nten furlongs; it is a way very\nlittle frequented:\n\n3  And as I was walking alone, I\nentreated the Lord that he would\nconfirm the Revelations which he\nhad shown unto me by his Holy\nChurch.\n\n4  And would grant repentance\nto all his servants who had been\noffended, that his great and\nhonourable name might be glorified,\nand because he thought me worthy\nto whom he might show his wonders,\nand, that I might honour him,\nand give thanks unto him.\n\n5  And behold somewhat like a\nvoice answered me; Doubt not,\nHermas. Wherefore I began to\nthink, and say within myself, why\nshould I doubt, seeing I am thus\nsettled by the Lord, and have seen\nsuch glorious things?\n\n6  I had gone but a little farther,\nbrethren, when behold I saw a\ndust rise up to heaven. I began\nto say within myself, is there a\ndrove of cattle coming, that rises\nsuch a dust?\n\n7  It was about a furlong off from\nme. And behold I saw the dust\nrise more and more, insomuch that\nI began to suspect that there was\nsomewhat extraordinary in it.\n\n8  And the sun shone a little;\nand behold I saw a great beast, as\nit were a whale; and fiery locusts\ncame out of his mouth. The height\nof the beast was about a hundred\nfeet, and he had a head like a\nlarge earthen vessel.\n\n9  I began to weep, and to pray\nunto the Lord that he would deliver\nme from it. Then I called to mind\nthe word which I had heard;\nDoubt not, Hermas.\n\n10  Wherefore, brethren, putting\non a divine faith, and remembering\nwho it was that had taught me great\nthings, I delivered myself bodily\nunto the beast.\n\n11  Now the beast came on in\nsuch a manner, as if it could at\nonce have devoured a city.\n\n12  I came near unto it, and the\nbeast extended its whole bulk upon\nthe ground, and put forth nothing\nbut its tongue, nor once moved itself\ntill I had quite passed by it.\n\n13  Now the beast had upon its\nhead four colours; first black,\nthen a red and bloody colour, then\na golden, and then a white.\n\n14  After that I had passed by\nit, and was gone forward about\nthirty feet, behold there met me a\ncertain virgin, well adorned as if\nshe had been just come out of her\nbride-chamber; all in white, having\non white shoes, and a veil down her\nface, and covered with shining hair.\n\n15  Now I knew by my former\nvisions that it was the church,\nand thereupon grew the more cheerful.\nShe saluted me, saying, Hail, O Man!\nI returned the salutation, saying,\nLady, Hail!\n\n16  She answering said unto me,\nDid nothing meet you, O man!\nI replied, Lady, there met me such\na beast, as seemed able to devour\na whole people; but by the power\nof God, and through his singular\nmercy, I escaped it.\n\n17  Thou didst escape it well,\nsaid she, because thou didst cast\nthy whole care upon God, and\nopened thy heart unto him,\nbelieving that thou couldst be safe\nby no other than by his great and\nhonourable name.\n\n18  For this cause the Lord sent\nhis angel, who is over the beast,\nwhose name is Hegrin, and stopped\nhis mouth, that he should not\ndevour thee, Thou hast escaped\na great trial through thy faith, and\nbecause thou didst not doubt for\nsuch a terrible beast.\n\n19  Go, therefore, and relate to\nthe elect of God the great things\nthat he hath done for thee. And\nthou shalt say unto them, that this\nbeast is the figure of the trial that\nis about to come.\n\n20  If, therefore, ye shall have\nprepared yourselves, ye may escape\nit, if your hearts be pure and\nwithout spot; and if ye shall serve\nGod all the rest of your days\nwithout complaint.\n\n21  Cast all your care upon the\nLord, and he will direct them.\nBelieve in God, ye doubtful,\nbecause he can do all things;\nhe can both turn away his wrath\nfrom you, and send you help and\nsecurity.\n\n22  Woe to the doubtful, to those\nwho shall hear these words, and\nshall despise them: it had been\nbetter for them that they had not\nbeen born.\n\n23  Then I asked her concerning\nthe four colours which the beast\nhad upon its head. But she\nanswered me saying; Again thou\nart curious in that thou asketh\nconcerning these things. But I\nsaid to her, Lady, chew me what\nthey are?\n\n24  Hear, said she; The black\nwhich thou sawest denotes the\nworld in which you dwell. The\nfiery and bloody colour signifies\nthat this age must be destroyed\nby fire and blood.\n\n25  The golden part are ye, who\nhave escaped out of it; for as gold\nis tried by the fire, and is made\nprofitable, so are ye also in like\nmanner tried who dwell among the\nmen of this world.\n\n26  They therefore, that shall\nendure to the end, and be proved\nby them, shall be purged. And as\ngold, by this trial, is cleansed\nand loses its dross, so shall ye\nalso cast away all sorrow and\ntrouble, and be made pure for\nthe building of the tower.\n\n27  But the white colour denotes\nthe time of the world which is to\ncome, in which the elect of God\nshall dwell: because the elect of\nGod shall be pure and without\nspot until life eternal.\n\n28  Wherefore do not thou cease\nto speak these thing in the ears of\nthe saints. Here ye have the figure\nof the great tribulation that is\nabout to come; which, if you\nplease, shall be nothing to you.\n\n29  When she had spoken thus\nmuch, she departed; but I saw\nnot whither she went. But suddenly\nI heard a noise, and I turned\nback, being afraid, for I thought\nthat the beast was coming toward\nme.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n                         THE SECOND PART OF THE\n                  BOOK OF HERMAS, CALLED HIS COMMANDS.\n\n\nIntroduction.\n\nWHEN I had prayed at home,\nand was sat down upon the\nbed, a certain man came in to me\nwith a reverend look, in the habit\nof a Shepherd, clothed with a white\ncloak, having his bag upon his\nback, and his staff in his hand, and\nsaluted me.\n\n2  I returned his salutation, and\nimmediately he sat down by me,\nand said unto me, I am sent by\nthat venerable messenger, that\nI should dwell with thee all the\nremaining days of thy life.\n\n3  But I thought that he was\ncome to try me, and said unto him,\nWho are you? For I know to\nwhom I am committed. He said\nunto me, Do you not know me?\nI answered no. I am, said he,\nthat shepherd to whose care you\nare delivered.\n\n4  Whilst he was yet speaking,\nhis shape was changed; and when\nI knew that it was he to whom I\nwas committed, I was ashamed,\nand a sudden fear came upon me,\nand I was utterly overcome with\nsadness, because I had spoken so\nfoolishly unto him.\n\n5  But he said unto me, Be not\nashamed, but receive strength in\nthy mind, through the commands\nwhich I am about to deliver unto\nthee. For, said he, I am sent to\nshow unto thee all those things\nagain, which thou hast seen before,\nbut especially such of them as may\nbe of most use unto thee.\n\n6  And first of all write my\nCommands and Similitudes, the rest\nthou shall so write as I shall show\nunto thee. But I therefore bid\nthee first of all write my Commands\nand Similitudes, that by often\nreading of them thou mayest\nthe more easily keep them in\nmemory.\n\n7  Whereupon I wrote his Commands\nand Similitudes, as he bade me.\n\n8  Which things if when you\nhave heard, ye shall observe to do\nthem, and shall walk according to\nthem, and exercise yourselves in\nthem with a pure mind, ye shall\nreceive from the Lord those things\nwhich he has promised unto you.\n\n9  But if having heard them ye\nshall not repent, but shall still go\non to add to your sins, ye shall\nbe punished by him.\n\n10  All these things that Shepherd,\nthe angel of repentance, commanded\nme to write.\n\n\n\nCOMMAND I.\n\n     Of believing in one God.\n\nFIRST of all believe that\nthere is one God who created and\nbrought all things out of nothing\ninto existence.\n\n2  He comprehends all things,\nand is only INFINITE, not to be\ncomprehended by any.\n\n3  Who can neither be defined\nby any words, nor conceived by\nthe mind.\n\n4  Therefore believe in him, and\nfear him; and fearing him abstain\nfrom all evil.\n\n5  Keep these things, and cast\nall lust and iniquity far from\nthee, and put on righteousness,\nand thou shalt live to God, if thou\nshalt keep his commandment.\n\n\n\nCOMMAND II.\n\n     That we must avoid detraction, and do our\n     alms-deeds with simplicity.\n\nHE said unto me, Be innocent\nand without disguise; so shalt\nthou be like an infant who knows\nno malice which destroys the\nlife of man.\n\n2  Especially see that thou speak\nevil of none, nor willingly hear\nany one speak evil of others.\n\n3  For if thou observest not this,\nthou also who hearest shall be\npartaker of the sin of him that\nspeaketh evil, by believing the\nslander, and thou also shalt have\nsin, because thou believedst him\nthat spoke evil of thy brother.\n\n4  Detraction is a pernicious\nthing; an inconstant, evil spirit;\nthat never continues in peace, but\nis always in discord. Wherefore\nrefrain thyself from it, and keep\npeace ever more with thy brother.\n\n5  Put on an holy constancy,\nin which there are no sins, but\nall is full of joy; and do good\nof thy labours.\n\n6  Give without distinction to\nall that are in want, not doubting\nto whom thou givest.\n\n7  But give to all, for God will\nhave us give to all, of all his own\ngifts. They therefore that receive\nshall give an account to God, both\nwherefore they received and for\nwhat end.\n\n8  And they that receive without\nreal need, shall give an account\nfor it; but he that gives shall be\ninnocent.\n\n9  For he has fulfilled his duty\nas he received it from God; not\nmaking any choice to whom he\nshould give, and to whom not.\nAnd this service he did with\nsimplicity and to the glory\nof God.\n\n10 Keep therefore this command\naccording as I have delivered it\ninto thee: that thy repentance\nnay be found to be sincere, and\nthat good may come to thy house;\nand have a pure heart.\n\n\n\nCOMMAND III.\n\n     Of avoiding lying, and the repentance of Hermas\n     for his dissimulation.\n\nMOREOVER he said unto me\nlove truth; and let all the\nspeech be true which proceeds out\nof thy mouth.\n\n2  That the spirit which the Lord\nhath given to dwell in thy flesh\nmay be found true towards all\nmen; and the Lord be glorified,\nwho hath given such a spirit unto\nthee: because God is true in all\nhis words, and in him there is no\nlie.\n\n3  They therefore that lie, deny\nthe Lord, and become robbers of\nthe Lord, not rendering to God\nwhat they received from him.\n\n4  For they received the spirit\nfree from lying: If therefore they\nmake that a liar, they defile what\nwas committed to them by the\nLord, and become deceivers.\n\n5  When I heard this, I wept\nbitterly; and when he saw me\nweeping, he said unto me, Why\nweepest thou? And I said, Because,\nsir, I doubt whether I can be saved.\n\n6  He asked me, Wherefore?\nI replied, Because, sir, I never\nspake a true word in my life; but\nalways lived in dissimulation, and\naffirmed a lie for truth to all men;\nand no man contradicted me, but\nall gave credit to my words. How\nthen can I live, seeing I have done\nin this manner?\n\n7  And he said unto me, Thou\nthinkest well and truly; for thou\noughtest, as the servant of God,\nto have walked in the truth, and\nnot have joined an evil conscience\nwith the spirit of truth, nor have\ngrieved the holy and true Spirit\nof God.\n\n8  And I replied unto him,\nSir, I never before hearkened\nso diligently to these things.\nHe answered, Now thou hearest them\nTake care from henceforth, that\neven those things which thou hast\nformerly spoken falsely for the\nsake of thy business, may, by\nthy present truth receive pardon.\n\n9  For even those things may\nbe forgiven, if for the time to come\nthou shalt speak the truth; and\nby so doing thou mayest attain\nunto life.\n\n10  And whosoever shall hearken\nunto this command, and do it,\nand shall depart from all lying,\nhe shall live unto God.\n\n\n\nCOMMAND IV.\n\n     Of putting away one's wife for adultery.\n\nFURTHERMORE, said he, I\ncommand thee, that thou keep\nthyself chaste; and that thou\nsuffer not any thought of any\nother marriage, or of fornication,\nto enter into thy heart; for such\na thought produces great sin.\n\n2  But be thou at all times mindful\nof the Lord, and thou shalt never\nsin. For if such an evil thought\nshould arise in thy heart, then\nthou shall be guilty of a great\nsin; and they who do such things,\nfollow the way of death.\n\n3  Look therefore to thyself, and\nkeep thyself from such a thought;\nfor where chastity remains in the\nheart of a righteous man, there an\nevil thought ought never to arise.\n\n4  And I said unto him, Sir,\nsuffer me to speak a little to you.\nHe bade me say on. And I answered,\nSir, if a man that is faithful\nin the Lord shall have a wife,\nand shall catch her in adultery;\ndoth a man sin that continues to\nlive still with her?\n\n5  And he said unto me, As long\nas he is ignorant of her sin, he\ncommits no fault in living with\nher; but if a man shall know his\nwife to, have offended, and she\nshall not repent of her sin, but go\non still in her fornication, and a\nman shall continue nevertheless\nto live with her, he shall become\nguilty of her sin, and partake with\nher in her adultery.\n\n6  And I said unto him, What\ntherefore is to be done, if the\nwoman continues on in her sin?\nHe answered, Let her husband put\nher away, and let him continue\nby himself; but if he shall put\naway his wife and marry another,\nhe also doth commit adultery.\n\n7  And I said, What, if the\nwoman that is so put away, should\nrepent, and be willing to return\nto her husband, shall she not be\nreceived by him? He said unto me,\nYes; and if her husband shall\nnot receive her, he will sin, and\ncommit a great offence against\nhimself; for he ought to receive\nthe offender, if she repents: only\nnot often.\n\n8  For, to the servants of God,\nthere is but one repentance; and\nfor this cause a man that putteth\naway his wife ought not to take\nanother, because she may repent.\n\n9  This act is alike both in the\nman and in the woman. Now they\ncommit adultery, not only who\npollute their flesh, but who\nalso make an image. If therefore\na woman perseveres in any thing\nof this kind, and repents not,\ndepart from her; and live not with\nher, otherwise thou also shalt be\npartaker of her sin.\n\n10  But it is therefore commanded\nthat both the man and the woman\nshould remain unmarried, because\nsuch persons may repent.\n\n11  Nor do I in this administer\nany occasion for the doing of these\nthings; but rather that whoso has\noffended, should not offend any\nmore.\n\n12  But for their former sins,\nGod who has the power of healing\nwill give a remedy; for he has\nthe power of all things.\n\n13  I asked him again, and\nsaid, Seeing the Lord hath thought\nme worthy that thou shouldest\ndwell with me continually, speak\na few words unto me, because I\nunderstand nothing, and my heart\nis hardened through my former\nconversation; and open my\nunderstanding because I am very\ndull, and apprehend nothing at all.\n\n14  And he answering said\nunto me, I am the minister of\nrepentance, and give understanding\nto all that repent. Does it not\nseem to thee to be a very wise\nthing to repent? Because he that\ndoes so gets great understanding.\n\n15  For he is sensible that he\nhath sinned and done wickedly in\nthe sight of the Lord, and he\nremembers within himself that he\nhas offended, and repents and does\nno more wickedly, but does that\nwhich is good, and humbles his\nsoul and afflicts it, because he has\noffended. You see therefore that\nrepentance is great wisdom.\n\n16  And I said unto him, For this\ncause, sir, I inquire diligently\ninto all things, because I am a\nsinner, that I may know what I\nmust do that I may live; because\nmy sins are many.\n\n17  And he said unto me, Thou\nshalt live if thou shalt keep these\nmy commandments. And whosoever\nshall hear and do these commands\nshall live unto God.\n\n18  And I said unto him, I have\neven now heard from certain\nteachers, that there is no other\nrepentance beside that of baptism,\nwhen we go down into the water,\nand receive the forgiveness of our\nsins; and that after that, we must\nsin no more, but live in purity.\n\n19  And he said unto me, Thou\nhast been rightly informed. Never-\nthe-less seeing now thou inquirest\ndiligently into all things, I will\nmanifest this also unto thee; yet\nnot so as to give any occasion of\nsinning, either to those who shall\nhereafter believe, or to those\nwho have already believed in the\nLord.\n\n20  For neither they who have\nnewly believed, or shall hereafter\nbelieve, have any repentance of sins,\nbut forgiveness of them.\n\n21  But as to those who have\nbeen called to the faith, and since\nthat are fallen into any gross sin,\nthe Lord hath appointed repentance,\nbecause God knoweth the thoughts\nof all men's hearts, and their\ninfirmities, and the manifold\nwickedness of the devil, who is\nalways contriving something\nagainst the servants of God, and\nmaliciously lays snares for them.\n\n22  Therefore our merciful Lord\nhad compassion towards his creature,\nand appointed that repentance, and\ngave unto me the power of it. And\ntherefore I say unto thee, if any\none after that great and holy\ncalling shall be tempted by the\ndevil and sin, he has one repentance.\nBut if he shall often sin and repent,\nit shall not profit such a one;\nfor he shall hardly live unto God.\n\n23  And I said, Sir, I am restored\nagain to life since I have thus\ndiligently hearkened to these\ncommands. For I perceive that if I\nshall not hereafter add any more\nof my sins, I shall be saved.\n\n24  And he said, Thou shalt be\nsaved: and so shall all others, as\nmany as shall observe these\ncommandments.\n\n25 And again I said unto him,\nSir, seeing thou hearest me\npatiently, show me yet one thing\nmore. Tell me, saith he, what it\nis.\n\n26  And I said, If a husband or\na wife die, and the party which\nsurvives marry again, does he sin\nin so doing? He that marries\nsays he, sins not: howbeit, if\nhe shall remain single, he shall\nthereby gain to himself great\nhonour before the Lord.\n\n27  Keep therefore thy chastity\nand modesty, and thou shalt live\nunto God. Observe from henceforth\nthose things which I speak\nwith thee, and command thee to\nobserve, from the time that I\nhave been delivered unto thee, and\ndwell in thy house.\n\n28  So shall thy former sins be\nforgiven, if thou shalt keep these\nmy commandments. And in like\nmanner shall all others be forgiven,\nwho shall observe these my commandments.\n\n\n\nCOMMAND V.\n\n     Of the sadness of the heart, and of patience.\n\nBe patient, says he, and long-\nsuffering; so shalt thou have\ndominion over all wicked works,\nand shall fulfil all righteousness.\n\n2  For if thou shalt be patient,\nthe Holy Spirit which dwelleth in\nthee shall be pure, and not be\ndarkened by any evil spirit; but\nbeing full of joy shall be enlarged,\nand feast in the body in which it\ndwells, and serve the Lord with\njoy, and in great peace.\n\n3  But if any anger shall overtake\nthee, presently the Holy Spirit\nwhich is in thee will be straightened\nand seek to depart from thee.\n\n4  For he is choked by the evil\nspirit, and has not the liberty of\nserving the Lord as he would; for\nhe is grieved by anger. When,\ntherefore, both these spirits dwell\ntogether, it is destructive to a\nman.\n\n5  As if one should take a little\nwormwood, and put it into a vessel\nof honey, the whole honey would\nbe spoiled; and a great quantity\nof honey is corrupted by a very\nlittle wormwood, and loses the\nsweetness of honey, and is no\nlonger acceptable to its Lord\nbecause the whole honey is made\nbitter, and loses its use.\n\n6  But if no wormwood be put\ninto the honey, it is sweet and\nprofitable to its Lord. Thus is\nforbearance sweeter than honey,\nand profitable to the Lord who\ndwelleth in it.\n\n7  But anger is unprofitable.\nIf therefore anger shall be mixed\nwith forbearance, the soul is\ndistressed, and its prayer is\nnot profitable with God.\n\n8  And I said unto him, Sir,\nI would know the sinfulness of\nanger, that I may keep myself from\nit. And he said unto me, Thou\nshall know it; and if thou shalt\nnot keep thyself from it, thou shalt\nlose thy hope with all thy house.\nWherefore depart from it.\n\n9  For I the messenger of\nrighteousness am with thee, and\nall that depart from it: as many\nas shall repent with all their hearts,\nshall live unto God; and I will be with\nthem, and will keep them all.\n\n10  For all such as have repented\nhave been justified by the most\nholy messenger, who is a minister\nof salvation.\n\n11  And now, says he, hear\nthe wickedness of anger; how\nevil and hurtful is is, and how it\noverthrows the servants of God;\nfor it cannot hurt those that are\nfull of faith because the power\nof God is with them; but it\noverthrows the doubtful, and those\nthat are destitute of faith.\n\n12  For as often as it sees such\nmen, it casts itself into their\nhearts; and so a man or woman\nis in bitterness for nothing: for\nthe things of life, or for sustenance,\nor for a vain word, if any should\nchance to fall in; or by reason\nof any friend, or for a debt,\nor for any other superfluous\nthings of the like nature.\n\n13  For these things are foolish,\nand superfluous, and vain to the\nservants of God. But equanimity\nis strong, and forcible; and of\ngreat power, and sitteth in great\nenlargement; is cheerful, rejoicing\nin peace; and glorifying God at\nall times I with meekness.\n\n14  And this long-suffering\ndwells with those that are full of\nfaith. But anger is foolish, and\nlight, and empty. Now bitterness\nis bred through folly; by\nbitterness, anger; by anger, fury;\nand this fury arising from so\nmany evil principles, worketh a\ngreat and incurable sin.\n\n15  For when all these things,\nare in the same man in which the\nHoly Spirit dwells, the vessel\ncannot contain them, but runs\nover: and because the Spirit being\ntender cannot tarry with the evil\none; it departs and dwells with\nhim that is meek.\n\n16  When, therefore, it is\ndeparted from the man in whom it\ndwelt, that man becomes destitute\nof the Holy Spirit, and is afterwards\nfilled with wicked spirits, and\nis blinded with evil thoughts.\nThus doth it happen to all angry\nmen.\n\n17  Wherefore depart then from\nanger, and put on equanimity, and\nresist: wrath; so then shalt be\nfound with modesty and chastity\nby God. Take good heed, therefore,\nthat thou neglect not this commandment.\n\n18. For if thou shalt obey this\ncommand, then thou shalt also be\nable to observe the other commandments\nwhich I shall command thee.\n\n19  Wherefore strengthen thyself\nnow in these commands, that then\nmayest live unto God. And whosoever\nshall observe these commandments\nshall live unto God.\n\n\n\nCOMMAND VI.\n\n     That every man has two angels and of the\n     suggestions of both.\n\nI COMMANDED thee, said he,\nin my first commandments,\nthat thou shouldst keep faith and\nfear, and repentance. Yes, sir,\nsaid I.\n\n2  He continued. But now I\nwill shew thee the virtues of these\ncommands, that then mayest know\ntheir effects; how they are\nprescribed alike to the just\nand unjust.\n\n3  Do thou therefore believe the\nrighteous, but give no credit to\nthe unrighteous. For righteousness\nkeepeth the right way, but\nunrighteousness the wicked way.\n\n4  Do thou therefore keep the\nright way, and leave that which is\nevil. For the evil way has not a\ngood end, but hath many stumbling-\nblocks; it is rugged and full\nof thorns, and leads to destruction;\nand it is hurtful to all such\nas walk in it.\n\n5  But they who go in the right\nway walk with evenness, and without\noffence; because it is not rough\nnor thorny.\n\n6  Thou seest therefore how it is\nbest to walk in this way. Thou\nshalt therefore go, says he, and all\nothers, as many as believe in God\nwith all their heart, shall go\nthrough it.\n\n7  And now, says he, I understand\nfirst of all what belongs to faith.\nThere are two angels with man;\none of righteousness, the other\nof iniquity.\n\n8  And I said unto him, Sir,\nhow shall I know that there are\ntwo such angels with man? Hear,\nsays he, and understand.\n\n9  The angel of righteousness,\nis mild and modest, and gentle,\nand quiet. When, therefore, he\ngets into thy heart, immediately\nhe talks with thee of righteousness,\nof modesty, of chastity, of\nbountifulness, of forgiveness,\nof charity, and piety.\n\n10  When all these things come\ninto thy heart, know then that the\nangel of righteousness is with thee.\nWherefore hearken to this angel\nand to his works.\n\n11  Learn also the works of the\nangel of iniquity. He is first of\nall bitter, and angry, and foolish;\nand his works are pernicious, and\noverthrow the servants of God.\nWhen therefore these things come\ninto thine heart; thou shalt know\nby his works, that this is the angel\nof iniquity.\n\n12  And I said unto him, Sir,\nhow shall I understand these\nthings? Hear, says he, and\nunderstand; When anger overtakes\nthee, or bitterness, know that he is\nin thee:\n\n13  As also, when the desire of\nmany things, and of the best meats,\nand of drunkenness; when the\nlove of what belongs to others,\npride, and much speaking, and\nambition; and the like things,\ncome upon thee.\n\n14  When therefore these things\narise in thine heart, know that the\nangel of iniquity is with thee.\nSeeing therefore thou knowest his\nworks, depart from them all, and\ngive no credit to him: because his\nworks are evil, and become not the\nservants of God.\n\n15  Here therefore thou hast\nthe works of both these angels.\nUnderstand now and believe the\nangel of righteousness, because\nhis instruction is good.\n\n16  For let a man be never so\nhappy; yet if the thoughts of the\nother angel arise in his heart, that\nman or woman must needs sin.\n\n17  But let man or woman be\nnever so wicked, if the works of\nthe angel of righteousness come\ninto their hearts, that man or\nwoman must needs do some good.\n\n18  Thou seest therefore how\nit is good to follow the angel of\nrighteousness. If therefore thou\nshall follow him, and submit to\nhis works, thou shalt live unto God.\nAnd as many as shall submit to\nhis work shall live also unto God.\n\n\n\nCOMMAND VII.\n\n     That we must fear God but not the Devil.\n\nFEAR God, says he, and keep\nhis commandments. For if\nthou keepest his commandments\nthou shalt be powerful in every\nwork, and all thy works shall be\nexcellent. For by fearing God,\nthou shalt do everything well.\n\n2  This is that tear with which\nthou must be affected that thou\nmayest be saved. But fear not\nthe Devil: for if thou fearest the\nLord, thou shalt have dominion\nover him; because there is no\npower in him.\n\n3  Now if there be no power in\nhim, then neither is he to be\nfeared: for every one that has\npower, is to be feared. But he\nthat has no power is despised by\nevery one.\n\n4  Fear the works of the Devil,\nbecause they are evil. For by\nfearing the Lord, thou wilt fear\nand do not the works of the Devil,\nbut keep thyself from them.\n\n5  There is therefore a twofold\nfear; if thou wilt not do evil, fear\nthe Lord and thou shalt not do it.\nBut if thou wilt do good, the fear\nof the Lord is strong, and great\nand glorious.\n\n6  Wherefore, fear God and thou\nshalt live: and whosoever shall\nfear him, and keep his commandments,\ntheir life is with the Lord.\nBut they who keep them not,\nneither is there life in them.\n\n\n\nCOMMAND VIII.\n\n     That we must flee from evil, and do good works.\n\nI HAVE told thee, said he,\nthat there are two kinds of\ncreatures of the Lord, and that\nthere is a two-fold abstinence.\nFrom some things therefore thou\nmust abstain, and from others not.\n\n2  I answered, Declare to me,\nsir, from what I must abstain, and\nfrom what not. Hearken, said he,\nKeep thyself from evil, and do it\nnot; yet abstain not from good,\nbut do it. For if thou shalt abstain\nfrom what is good, and not do it,\nthou shalt sin. Abstain therefore\nfrom all evil, and thou shalt know\nall righteousness.\n\n3  I said, What evil things are\nthey from which I must abstain?\nHearken, said he; from adultery,\nfrom drunkenness, from riots, from\nexcess of eating, from daintiness\nand dishonesty, from pride, from\nfraud, from lying, from detraction,\nfrom hypocrisy, from remembrance\nof injuries, and from all evil\nspeaking.\n\n4  For these are the works of\niniquity, from which the servant\nof God must abstain. For he that\ncannot keep himself from these\nthings, cannot live unto God.\n\n5  But hear, said he, what\nfollows of these kind of things:\nfor indeed many more there are\nfrom which the servant of God must\nabstain. From theft, and cheating;\nfrom false witness, from covetousness,\nfrom boasting, and all other things\nof the like nature.\n\n6  Do these things seem to thee\nto be evil or not? Indeed they\nare very evil to the servants of\nGod, Wherefore the servant of\nGod must abstain from all these\nworks.\n\n7  Keep thyself therefore from\nthem, that thou mayest live unto\nGod, and be written among those\nthat abstain from them. And thus\nhave I shown thee what things\nthou must avoid: now learn from\nwhat thou must not abstain.\n\n8  Abstain not from any good\nworks, but do them. Hear, said\nhe, what the virtue of those good\nworks is which thou must do, that\nthou mayest be saved. The first\nof all is faith; the fear of the\nLord; charity; concord; equity;\ntruth; patience; chastity.\n\n9  There is nothing better than\nthese things in the life of men;\nwho shall keep and do these\nthings in their life. Hear next\nwhat follow these.\n\n10  To minister to the widows;\nnot to despise the fatherless and\npoor; to redeem the servants of\nGod from necessity; to be hospitable\n(for in hospitality there is\nsometimes great fruit); not to be\ncontentious, but be quiet.\n\n11  To be humble above all men;\nto reverence the aged; to labour\nto be righteous; to respect the\nbrotherhood; to bear affronts; to\nbe long-suffering; not to cast\naway those that have fallen from\nthe faith, but to convert them, and\nmake them be of good cheer: to\nadmonish sinners; not to oppress\nthose that are our debtors; and all\nother things of a like kind.\n\n12  Do these things seem to thee\nto be good or not? And I said,\nWhat can be better than these\nwords? Live then, said he, in\nthese commandments, and do not\ndepart from them. For if thou\nshalt keep all these commandments,\nthou shalt live unto God. And all\nthey that shall keep these\ncommandments shall live unto God.\n\n\n\nCOMMAND IX.\n\n     That we must ask of God daily;\n     and without doubting.\n\nAGAIN he said unto me; remove from\nthee all doubting; and question\nnothing at all when thou askest\nany thing of the Lord; saying\nwithin thyself, how shall I\nbe able to ask any thing of the\nLord and receive it, seeing I have\nso greatly sinned against him?\n\n2  Do not think thus, but turn\nunto the Lord with all thy heart,\nand ask of him without doubting,\nand thou shalt know the mercy of\nthe Lord; bow that he will not\nforsake thee, but will fulfil the\nrequest of thy soul.\n\n3  For God is not as men, mindful\nof the injuries he has received;\nbut he forgets injuries, and has\ncompassion upon his creature.\n\n4  Wherefore purify thy heart\nfrom all the vices of this present\nworld; and observe the commands\nI have before delivered unto thee\nfrom God; and thon shall receive\nwhatsoever good things thou shalt\nask, and nothing shall be wanting\nunto thee of all thy petitions; if\nthou shalt ask of the Lord without\ndoubting.\n\n5  But they that are not such,\nshall obtain none of those things\nwhich they ask. For they that are\nfull of faith, ask all things with\nconfidence, and receive from the\nLord, because they ask without\ndoubting. But he that doubts,\nshall hardly live unto God, except\nhe repent.\n\n6  Wherefore purify thy heart\nfrom doubting, and put on faith,\nand trust in God, and thou shall\nreceive all that thou shalt ask.\nBut if thou shouldest chance to\nask something, and not immediately\nreceive it, yet do not therefore\ndoubt, because thou hast not\npresently received the petition\nof thy soul.\n\n7  For it may be thou shalt not\npresently receive it for thy trial,\nor else for some sin which thou\nknowest not. But do not thou\nleave off to ask, and then thou\nshalt receive. Else if thou shalt\ncease to ask, thou must complain\nof thyself, and not of God, that he\nhas not given unto thee what thou\ndidst desire.\n\n8  Consider therefore this doubting\nhow cruel and pernicious it is;\nand how it utterly roots out many\nfrom the faith, who were very\nfaithful and firm. For this doubting\nis the daughter of the Devil, and\ndeals very wickedly with the\nservants of God.\n\n9  Despise it therefore, and thou\nshalt rule over it on every occasion.\nPut on a firm and powerful faith:\nfor faith promises all things\nand perfects all things. But\ndoubting will not believe that it\nshall obtain any thing by all that\nit can do.\n\n10.  Thou seest therefore, says\nhe, how faith cometh from above\nfrom God; and hath great power.\nBut doubting is an earthly spirit,\nand proceedeth from the Devil,\nand has no strength.\n\n11  Do thou therefore keep the\nvirtue of faith, and depart from\ndoubting, in which is no virtue,\nand thou shalt live unto God. And\nall shall live unto God, as many\nas do these things.\n\n\n\nCOMMAND X.\n\n     Of the sadness of the heart; and that\n     we must take, heed not to grieve the\n     spirit of God that is in us.\n\nPUT all sadness far from thee;\nfor it is the sister of doubting\nand of anger.  How, sir, said I\nis it the sister of these? For\nsadness, and anger, and doubting,\nseem to me to be very different\nfrom one another.\n\n2  And he answered: Art thou\nwithout sense that thou dost not\nunderstand it? For sadness is the\nmost mischievous of all spirits,\nand the worst to the servants of\nGod: It destroys the spirits of all\nmen, and torments the Holy Spirit,\nand it saves again.\n\n3  Sir, said I, I am very foolish,\nand understand not these things.\nI cannot apprehend how it can\ntorment, and yet save. Hear, said\nhe, and understand. They who\nnever sought out the truth, nor\ninquired concerning the majesty\nof God, but only believed, are\ninvolved in the affairs of the\nheathen.\n\n4  And there is another lying\nprophet that destroys the minds\nof the servants of God; that is\nof those that are doubtful, not of\nthose that fully trust in the Lord.\nNow those doubtful persons come\nto him, as to a divine spirit, and\ninquire of him what shall befall\nthem.\n\n5  And this lying prophet, having\nno power in him of the Divine\nSpirit, answers them according to\ntheir demands, and fills their souls\nwith promises according as they\ndesire. Howbeit that prophet is\nvain, and answers vain things to\nthose who are themselves vain.\n\n6  And whatsoever is asked of\nhim by vain men, he answers them\nvainly; nevertheless he speaketh\nsome things truly. For the Devil\nfills him with his spirit, that he\nmay overthrow some of the\nrighteous.\n\n7  Whosoever therefore are\nstrong in the faith of the Lord,\nand have put on the truth; they\nare not joined to such spirits, but\ndepart from them. But they that\nare doubtful, and often repenting,\nlike the heathens, consult them,\nand heap up to themselves great\nsin, serving idols.\n\n8  As many therefore as are\nsuch, inquire of them upon every\noccasion; worship idols, and are\nfoolish; and void of the truth.\nFor every spirit that is given\nfrom God needs not to be asked:\nbut having the power of divinity\nspeaks all things of itself,\nbecause he comes from above;\nfrom the power of God.\n\n10  But he, that being asked\nspeaks according to men's desires\nand concerning many other affairs\nof this present world, understands\nnot the tidings which relate unto\nGod. For these spirits are darkened\nthrough such affairs, and corrupted,\nand broken.\n\n11  As good vines if they are\nneglected, are oppressed with weeds\nand thorns, and at last killed by\nthem; so are the men who believe\nsuch spirits.\n\n12  They fall into many actions\nand businesses, and are void of\nsense, and when they think of\nthings pertaining unto God, they\nunderstand nothing at all; but\nat any time they chance to hear\nany thing concerning the Lord,\ntheir thoughts are upon their\nbusiness.\n\n13  But they that have the fear\nof the Lord, and search out the\ntruth concerning God, having all\ntheir thoughts towards the Lord;\napprehend whatsoever is said to\nthem, and forthwith understand\nit, because they have the fear\nof the Lord in them.\n\n14  For where the spirit of the\nLord dwells, there is also much\nunderstanding added. Wherefore\njoin thyself to the Lord, and thou\nshalt understand all things.\n\n15  Learn now, O unwise man!\nhow sadness troubleth the Holy\nSpirit, and how it saves. When\na man that is doubtful is engaged\nin any affair, and does not\naccomplish it by reason of his\ndoubting; this sadness enters\ninto him, and grieves the Holy\nSpirit, and makes him sad.\n\n16  Again anger, when it over.\ntakes any man for any business he\nis greatly moved; and then again\nsadness entereth into the heart of\nhim, who was moved with anger,\nand he is troubled for what he hath\ndone, and repenteth, because he\nhath done amiss.\n\n17  This sadness therefore seemeth\nto bring salvation, because he\nrepenteth of his evil deed. But\nboth the other things, namely,\ndoubting and sadness, such as\nbefore was mentioned, vex the\nspirit: doubting, because his\nwork did not succeed; and sadness,\nbecause he angered the Holy Spirit.\n\n18  Remove therefore sadness\nfrom thyself, and afflict not the\nHoly Spirit which dwelleth in\nthee, lest he entreat God, and\ndepart from thee. For the spirit\nof the Lord which is given to\ndwell in the flesh, endureth no\nsuch sadness.\n\n19  Wherefore clothe thyself\nwith cheerfulness, which has always\nfavour with the Lord, and thou shalt\nrejoice in it. For every cheerful\nman does well; and relishes those\nthings that are good, and despises\nsadness.\n\n20  But the sad man does always\nwickedly. First, he doth wickedly,\nbecause he grieveth the Holy Spirit,\nwhich is given to man being of a\ncheerful nature. And again he does\nill, because be prays with sadness\nunto the Lord, and maketh not first\na thankful acknowledgment unto him\nof former mercies, and obtains not\nof God what he asks.\n\n21  For the prayer of a sad man\nhas not always efficacy to come up\nto the altar of God. And I said\nunto him, Sir, why has not the\nprayer of a sad man virtue to come\nup to the altar of God?  Because,\nsaid he, that sadness remaineth in\nhis heart.\n\n22  When therefore a man's\nprayer shall be accompanied with\nsadness, it will not suffer his\nrequests to ascend pure to the altar\nof God. For as wine when it is\nmingled with vinegar, has not the\nsweetness it had before; so sadness\nbeing mixed with the Holy Spirit,\nsuffers not a man's prayer to be\nthe same as it would be otherwise.\n\n23  Wherefore cleanse thyself\nfrom sadness, which is evil, and\nthou shalt live unto God. And all\nothers shall live unto God, as many\nas shall lay aside sadness, and put\non cheerfulness.\n\n\n\nCOMMAND XI.\n\n     That the spirits and prophets are to be\n     tried by their works; and of a twofold, spirit.\n\nHE showed me certain men\nsitting upon benches, and\none sitting in a chair: and he said\nunto me; Seest thou those who sit\nupon the benches? Sir, said I,\nI see them. He answered, They\nare the faithful; and he who sits\nin the chair is an earthly spirit.\n\n2  For he cometh not into the\nassembly of the faitful, but avoids\nit. But he joins himself to the\ndoubtful and empty; and prophesies\nto them in corners and hidden places;\nand pleases them by speaking according\nto all the desires of their hearts.\n\n3 For he placing himself among\nempty vessels, is not broken, but\nthe one fitteth the other. But\nwhen he cometh into the company\nof just men, who are full of the\nspirit of God, and they pray unto\nthe Lord; that man is emptied,\nbecause that earthly spirit flies\nfrom him, and he is dumb, and\ncannot speak anything.\n\n4  As if in a store-house you\nshall stop up wine or oil, and\namong those vessels place an\nempty jar; and when afterwards\nyou come to open it, you shall\nfind it empty as you stopped it up;\nso those empty prophets when\nthey come among the spirits of\nthe just, are found to be such as\nthey came.\n\n5  I said, How then shall a\nman be able to discern them?\nConsider what I am going to say\nconcerning both kinds of men;\nand as I speak unto thee so shalt\nthou prove the prophet of God,\nand the false prophet.\n\n6  And first try the man who\nhath the spirit of God, because\nthe spirit which is from above is\nhumble, and quiet, and departs\nfrom all wickedness; and from the\nvain desires of the present world;\nand makes himself more humble\nthan all men; and answers to none\nwhen he is asked; nor to every\none singly: for the Spirit of God\ndoth not speak to a man when he\nwill, but when God pleases.\n\n7  When therefore a man who hath\nthe Spirit of God hath come into\nthe church of the righteous, who\nhave the faith of God, and they\npray unto the Lord; then the holy\nangel of God fills that man with\nthe blessed Spirit, and he speaks\nin the congregation as he is moved\nof God.\n\n8  Thus therefore is the spirit,\nof God known, because whosoever\nspeaketh by the Spirit of God,\nspeaketh as the Lord will.\n\n9  Hear now concerning the\nearthly spirit, which is empty and\nfoolish, and without virtue. And\nfirst of all the man who is supposed\nto have the Spirit, (whereas he hath\nit not in reality), exalteth himself,\nand desires to have the first seat,\nand is wicked, and full of words.\n\n10  And spends his time in pleasure,\nand in all manner of voluptuousness,\nand receives the reward of his\ndivination; which if he receives\nnot, he does not divine.\n\n11  Should the Spirit of God\nreceive reward, and divine? It doth\nnot become a prophet of God so to\ndo.\n\n12  Thus you seethe life of each\nof these kind of prophets. Wherefore\nprove that man by his life and works,\nwho says that he hath the Holy Spirit.\nAnd believe the Spirit which comes\nfrom God, and has power as such.\nBut believe not the earthly and\nempty spirit, which is from the\ndevil, in whom there is no faith\nnor virtue.\n\n13  Hear now the similitude\nwhich I am about to speak unto\nthee. Take a stone, and throw it\nup towards heaven; or take a\nspout of water, and mount it up\nthitherward; and see if thou\ncanst reach unto heaven.\n\n14  Sir; said I, how can this be\ndone? For neither of those things\nwhich you have mentioned, are\npossible to be done. And he\nanswered, Therefore as these things\ncannot be done, so is the earthy\nspirit without virtue, and without\neffect.\n\n15  Understand yet farther the\npower which cometh from above,\nin this similitude. The grains of\nhail that drop down are exceedingly\nsmall; and yet when they fall upon\nthe head of a man, how do they\ncause pain to it.\n\n16  And again, consider, the\ndroppings of a house; how the\nlittle drops falling upon the earth,\nwork a hollow in the stones.\n\n17  So in like manner the least\nthings which come from above,\nand fall upon the earth, have great\nforce. Wherefore join thyself\nto this spirit, which has the\npower; and depart from the other\nwhich is empty.\n\n\n\nCOMMAND XII.\n\n     Of a two fold  desire: that the commands of God,\n     are not impossible: and that the devil is not\n     to be feared by them that believe.\n\nAGAIN he said unto me;\nremove from thee all evil\ndesires, and put on good and\nholy desires. For having put on a\ngood desire, thou shalt hate that\nwhich is evil, and bridle it as thou\nwilt. But an evil desire is dreadful,\nand hard to be tamed.\n\n2  It is very horrible and wild;\nand by its wildness consumes men.\nAnd especially if a servant of God\nshall chance to fall into it, except\nhe be very wise, he is ruined by\nit. For it destroys those who have\nnot the garment of a good desire\nand are engaged in the affairs of\nthis present world; and delivers\nthem unto death.\n\n3  Sir, said I, what are the works\nof an evil desire, which bring men\nunto death? Shew them to me that\nI may depart from them. Hear, said he,\nby what works an evil desire bringeth\nthe servants of God unto death.\n\n4  First of all, it is an evil desire\nto covet another man's wife, or\nfor a woman to covet another's\nhusband; as also to desire the\ndainties of riches; and multitude\nof superfluous meats; and drunkenness;\nand many delights.\n\n5  For in much delicacy there is\nfolly; and many pleasures are\nneedless to the servants of God.\nSuch lusting therefore is evil and\npernicious, which brings to death\nthe servants of God. For all such\nlusting is from the devil.\n\n6 Whosoever therefore shall\ndepart from all evil desires,\nshall live unto God; but they\nthat are subject unto them shall\ndie forever. For this evil lusting\nis deadly. Do thou therefore put\non the desire of righteousness,\nand being armed with the fear of\nthe Lord resist all wicked lusting.\n\n7 For this fear dwelleth in good\ndesires; and, when evil coveting\nshall see thee armed with the fear\nof the Lord, and resisting it; it\nwill fly far from thee, and not\nappear before thee, but be afraid\nof thy armour.\n\n8  And thou shall have the victory,\nand be crowned for it; and shall\nattain to that desire which is\ngood; and shall give the victory\nwhich thou hast obtained unto\nGod, and shall serve him in doing\nwhat thou thyself wouldest do.\n\n9  For if thou shalt serve good\ndesires, and be subject to them;\nthen thou shalt be able to get the\ndominion over thy wicked lustings;\nand they will be subject to thee,\nas thou wilt.\n\n10  And I said, Sir, I would\nknow how to serve that desire\nwhich is good? Hearken, said he,\nFear God, and put thy trust in\nhim, and love truth, and\nrighteousness, and do that\nwhich is good.\n\n10  If thou shalt do these things,\nthou shall be an approved servant\nof God, and serve him; and all\nothers who shall in like manner\nserve a good desire, shall live unto\nGod.\n\n12  And when he had fulfilled\nthese twelve commands, he said\nunto me, Thou hast now these\ncommands, walk in them; and exhort\nthose that hear them, to repent,\nand that they keep their\nrepentance pure all the\nremaining days of their life.\n\n13  And fulfil diligently this\nministry which I commit to thee,\nand thou shalt receive great\nadvantage by it, and find favour\nwith all such as shall repent\nand believe thy words. For I am\nwith thee, and will force them\nto believe.\n\n14  And I said unto him, Sir,\nthese commands are great and\nexcellent, and able to cheer the\nheart of that man that shall be\nable to keep them. But, Sir,\nI cannot tell, whether they can\nbe observed by any man?\n\n15  He answered, Thou shalt\neasily keep these commands, and\nthey shall not be hard: howbeit,\nif thou shalt suffer it once to\nenter into thine heart that they\ncannot be kept by any one, thou\nshalt not fulfil them.\n\n16  But now I say unto thee,\nif thou shalt not observe these\ncommands, and shall neglect them,\nthou shalt not be saved, nor thy\nchildren, nor thy house: because\nthou hast judged that these\ncommands cannot be kept by man.\n\n17  These things he spake\nvery angrily unto me, insomuch\nthat he greatly affrighted me,\nfor he changed his countenance\nso that a man could not bear his\nanger.\n\n18  And when he saw me altogether\ntroubled and confounded, he began\nto speak more moderately and\ncheerfully, saying, O foolish,\nand without understanding!\n\n19  Unconstant, not knowing\nthe majesty of God how great and\nwonderful he is; who created the\nworld for man, and hath made\nevery creature subject unto him;\nand given him all power, that he\nshould be able to fulfil all these\ncommands.\n\n20  He is able, said he, to fulfil\nall these commands, who has the\nLord in his heart; but they who\nhave the Lord only in their mouths,\ntheir hearts are hardened, and\nthey are far from the Lord: to\nsuch persons these commands are\nhard and difficult.\n\n21 Therefore, ye that are empty\nand light in the faith, put the\nLord your God in your hearts;\nand ye shall perceive how that\nnothing is more easy than these\ncommands, nor more pleasant, nor\nmore gentle and holy.\n\n22  And turn yourselves to the\nLord your God, and forsake the\ndevil and his pleasures, because\nthey are evil, and bitter, and\nimpure. And fear not the devil,\nbecause he has no power over you.\n\n23  For I am with you, the\nmessenger of repentance, who have\nthe dominion over him. The devil\ndoth indeed affright men but his\nterror is vain. Wherefore fear\nhim not, and he will flee from you.\n\n24 And I said unto him; Sir,\nhear me speak a few words unto\nyou. He answered, Say on: A\nman indeed desires to keep the\ncommandments of God, and there\nis no one but what prays unto God,\nthat he may be able to keep his\ncommandments;\n\n25  But the devil is hard, and\nby his power rules over the servants\nof God. And he said; He cannot\nrule over the servants of God,\nwho trust in him with all their\nhearts.\n\n26  The devil may strive, but he\ncannot overcome them.\n\n27  For if ye resist him, he will\nflee away with confusion from you.\nBut they that are not full in the\nfaith, fear the devil, as if he had\nsome great power. For the devil\ntries the servants of God and if he\nfinds them empty, he destroys\nthem.\n\n28  For as man, when he fills up\nvessels with good wine, and among\nthem puts a few vessels half full,\nand comes to try and taste of the\nvessels, doth not try those that are\nfull, because he knows that they\nare good, but tastes those that are\nhalf full, lest they should grow\nsour; (for vessels half full soon\ngrow sour, and lose the taste of\nwine:) so the devil comes to the\nservants of God to try them.\n\n29  They that are full of faith\nresist him stoutly, and he departs\nfrom them, because he finds no\nplace where to enter into them\nthen he goes to those that are not\nfull of faith, and because he has a\nplace of entrance he goes into\nthem, and does what he will with\nthem, and they become his servants.\n\n30  But I, the messenger of\nrepentance, say unto you, fear not\nthe devil, for I am sent unto you,\nthat I may be with you, as many\nas shall repent with your whole\nheart, and that I may confirm you\nin the faith.\n\n31  Believe therefore, ye who\nby reason of your transgressions\nhave forgot God. and your own\nsalvation; and adding to your\nsins have made your life very\nheavy.\n\n32  That if ye shall turn to the\nLord with your whole hearts, and\nshall serve him according to his\nwill; he will heal you of your\nformer sins, and ye shall have\ndominion over all the works of the\ndevil.\n\n33  Be not then afraid in the\nleast of his threatenings, for they\nare without force, as the nerves of\na dead man. But hearken unto\nme, and fear the Lord Almighty,\nwho is able to save and to destroy\nyou; and keep his commands, that\nye may live unto God.\n\n34  And I said unto him; Sir,\nI am now confirmed in all the\ncommands of the Lord whilst you\nare with me, and I know that you\nwill break all the powers of the\ndevil.\n\n35  And we also shall overcome\nhim, if we shall be able, through\nthe help of the Lord, to keep these\ncommands which you have delivered.\n\n36  Thou shalt keep them, said\nhe, if thou shalt purify thy heart\ntowards the Lord. And all they\nalso shall keep them who shall\ncleanse their hearts from the vain\ndesires of the present world, and\nshall live unto God.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n                         THE THIRD PART OF THE\n                BOOK OF HERMAS, CALLED HIS SIMILITUDES.\n\n\nSIMILITUDE I.\n\n     That seeing we have no abiding city in this world,\n     we ought to look after that which is to come.\n\nAND he said onto me; Ye know\nthat ye who are the servants\nof the Lord, live here as in\na pilgrimage; for your city\nis far off from this city.\n\n2  If, therefore, ye know your\ncity in which ye are to dwell,\nwhy do ye here buy estates, and\nprovide yourselves with delicacies,\nand stately buildings, and\nsupurfluous houses? For he that\nprovides himself these things\nin this city, does not think\nof returning into his own city.\n\n3 O foolish, and doubtful, and\nwretched man; who understandest\nnot that all these things belong\nto other men, and are under the\npower of another. For the Lord\nof this city saith unto thee;\nEither obey my laws, or depart\nout of my city.\n\n4  What therefore shalt thou do\nwho art subject to a law in thine\nown city? Canst thou for thy\nestate, or for any of those things\nwhich thou hast provided, deny\nthy law? But if thou shalt deny\nit, and wilt afterwards return into\nthy own city, thou shalt not be\nreceived, but shall be excluded\nthence.\n\n5  See therefore, that like a man\nin another country, thou procure\nno more to thyself than what is\nnecessary, and sufficient for thee;\nand be ready, that when the God\nor Lord of this city shall drive\nthee out of it thou mayest oppose\nhis law, and go into thine own\ncity; where thou mayest with all\ncheerfulness live according to\nthine own law with no wrong.\n\n6  Take heed therefore ye that\nserve God, and have him in your\nhearts: work ye the works of\nGod, being mindful both of his\ncommands and of his promises,\nwhich he has promised; and be\nassured that he will make them\ngood unto you; if ye shall keep\nhis commandments.\n\n7  Instead therefore of the\npossessions that ye would otherwise\npurchase, redeem those that are\nin want from their necessities,\nas every one is able; justify the\nwidows; judge the cause of the\nfatherless; and spend your riches\nand your wealth in such works as\nthese.\n\n8  For this end has God enriched\nyou, that ye might fulfil these\nkind of services. It is much\nbetter to do this, than to buy lands\nor houses; because all such things\nshall perish with this present time.\n\n9  But what ye shall do for the\nname of the Lord, ye shall find\nin your city, and shall have joy\nwithout sadness or fear. Wherefore\ncovet not the riches of the heathen;\nfor they are destructive to the\nservants of God.\n\n10  But trade with your own riches\nwhich you possess, by which ye may\nattain unto everlasting joy.\n\n11  And do not commit adultery,\nnor touch any other man's wife,\nnor desire her; but covet that\nwhich is thy own business, and\nthou shalt be saved.\n\n\n\nSIMILITUDE II.\n\n     As the vine is supported by the elm,\n     so is the rich man helped by the prayers of the poor.\n\nAS I was walking into the field,\nand considered the elm and\nthe vine, and thought with myself\nof their fruits, an angel appeared\nunto me, and said unto me; What\nis it that thou thinkest upon thus\nlong within thyself?\n\n2  And I said unto him, Sir, I\nthink of this vine and this elm\nbecause their fruits are fair.\nAnd he said unto me; These two\ntrees are set for a pattern to\nthe servants of God.\n\n3  And I said unto him, Sir, I\nwould know in what the pattern\nof these trees which thou mentionest,\ndoes consist. Hearken, saith he;\nseest thou this vine and this\nelm? Sir, said I, I see them.\n\n4  This vine, saith he, is fruitful,\nbut the elm is a tree without fruit.\nNevertheless this vine unless it\nwere set by this elm, and supported\nby it, would not bear much\nfruit; but lying along upon the\nground, would bear but ill fruit,\nbecause it did not hang upon the\nelm; whereas, being supported\nupon the elm, it bears fruit both\nfor itself and for that.\n\n5  See, therefore, how the elm\ngives no less, but rather more\nfruit, than the vine. How, Sir,\nsaid I, does it bear more fruit\nthan the vine? Because, said he,\nthe vine being supported upon\nthe elm gives both much and good\nfruit; whereas, if it lay along\nupon the ground, it would bear\nbut little, and that very ill too.\n\n6  This similitude, therefore,\nis set forth to the servants of God;\nand it represents the rich and poor\nman. I answered, Sir, make this\nmanifest unto me.   Hear, said he;\nthe rich man has wealth: howbeit\ntowards the Lord he is poor; for\nhe is taken up about his riches,\nand prays but little to the Lord;\nand the prayers which he makes\nare lazy and without force.\n\n7  When therefore, the rich man\nreaches out to the poor those\nthings which he wants, the poor\nman prays unto the Lord for the\nrich; and God grants unto the\nrich man all good things, because\nthe poor man is rich in prayer;\nand his requests have great power\nwith the Lord.\n\n8  Then the rich man ministers\nall thing to the poor, because he\nperceives that he is heard by the\nLord; and he the more willingly\nand without doubting, affords him\nwhat he wants, and takes care that\nnothing be lacking to him.\n\n9  And the poor man gives\nthanks unto the Lord for the rich;\nbecause they both do their work\nfrom the Lord.\n\n10  With men, therefore, the\nelm is not thought to give any\nfruit; and they know not, neither\nunderstand that its company being\nadded to the vine, the vine bears a\ndouble increase, both for itself and\nfor the elm.\n\n11  Even so the poor praying\nunto the Lord for the rich, are\nheard by him; and their riches\nare increased, because they minister\nto the poor of their wealth.\nThey are, therefore, both made\npartakers of each other's good\nworks.\n\n12  Whosoever, therefore, shall\ndo these things, he shall not be\nforsaken by the Lord, but shall be\nwritten in the book of life.\n\n13  Happy are they who are rich,\nand perceive themselves to be\nincreased: for he that is sensible\nof this, will be able to minister\nsomewhat to others.\n\n\n\nSIMILITUDE III.\n\n     As the greet trees in the winter cannot be\n     distinguished from the dry; so neither can the\n     righteous from the wicked in this present world.\n\nAGAIN he showed me many\ntrees whose leaves were shed,\nand which seemed to me to be\nwithered, for they were all alike.\nAnd he said unto me, Seest thou\nthese trees?   I said, Sir, I see that\nthey look like dry trees.\n\n2  He answering, said unto me;\nThese trees are like unto the men\nwho live in the present world. I\nreplied: Sir, why are they like\nunto dried trees? Because, said\nhe, neither the righteous, nor\nunrighteous, are known from one\nanother; but all are alike in this\npresent world.\n\n3  For this world is as the winter\nto the righteous men, because\nthey are not known, but dwell\namong sinners.\n\n4  As in the winter all the trees\nhaving lost their leaves, are like\ndry trees; nor can it be discerned\nwhich are dry and which are green:\nso in this present world neither\nthe righteous, nor wicked are\ndiscerned from each other; but they\nare all alike.\n\n\n\nSIMILITUDE IV.\n\n     As in the summer the living trees are distinguished\n     from the dry by their fruit and green leaves;\n     so in the world to come the righteous shall be\n     distinguished from the unrighteous by their happiness.\n\nAGAIN he showed me many\nother trees, of which some\nhad leaves, and others appeared\ndry and withered. And he said\nunto me, Seest thou these trees\nI answered, Sir, I see them; some\nare dry, and others full of leaves.\n\n2  These trees, saith be, which\nare green, are the righteous, who\nshall possess the world to come.\nFor the world to come, is the summer\nto the righteous; but to sinners\nit is the winter.\n\n3  When, therefore, the mercy\nof the Lord shall shine forth, then\nthey who serve God shall be made\nmanifest, and plain unto all. For\nas in the summer the fruit of every\ntree is shown and made manifest.\nso also the works of the righteous\nshall be declared and made manifest,\nand they shall all be restored\nin that world merry and joyful.\n\n4  For the other kind of men,\nnamely the wicked, like the trees\nwhich thou rawest dry, shall, as\nsuch, be found dry and without\nfruit in that other world; and like\ndry wood shall be burnt; and it\nshall be made manifest that they\nhave done evil all the time of their\nlife;\n\n5  And they shall be burnt because\nthey have sinned and have not\nrepented of their sins. And\nalso all the other nations shall\nbe burnt, because they have not\nacknowledged God their Creator.\n\n6  Do then, therefore, bring forth\ngood fruit, that in the summer thy\nfruit may be known; and keep\nthyself from much business, and\nthou shalt not offend. For they\nwho are involved in much business,\nsin much; because they are taken\nup with their affairs, and\nserve not God.\n\n7  And how can a man that does\nnot serve God, ask anything of\nGod, and receive it? But they\nwho serve him, ask and receive\nwhat they desire.\n\n8  But if a man has only one\nthing to follow, he may serve God,\nbecause his mind is not taken off\nfrom God, but he serves him with\na pure mind.\n\n9  If, therefore, thou shalt do\nthis, thou mayest have fruit in\nthe world to come; and as many as\nshall do in like manner, shall\nbring forth fruit.\n\n\n\nSIMILITUDE V.\n     Of a true fast, and the rewards of it:\n     also of the cleanliness of the body.\n\nAS I was fasting, and sitting\ndown in a certain mountain,\nand giving thanks unto God for all\nthe things that he had done unto\nme; behold, I saw the Shepherd,\nwho was wont to converse with\nme, sitting by me, and saying\nunto me:  What has brought thee\nhither thus early in the morning?\nI answered, Sir, to-day I keep a\nstation.\n\n2  He answered, What is a station;\nI replied, it is a fast. He said,\nWhat is that fast?  I answered,\nI fast as I have been wont to\ndo. Ye know not, said he, what\nit is to fast unto God; nor is this\na fast which ye keep, profiting\nnothing with God.\n\n3  Sir, said I, what makes you\nspeak thus? He replied, I speak\nit, because it is not the true fast\nwhich you think that you keep;\nbut I will show you what that is\nwhich is a complete fast, and\nacceptable unto God.\n\n4  Hearken, said he, The Lord\ndoes not desire such a needless\nfast; for by fasting in this manner,\nthou advancest nothing in\nrighteousness.\n\n5  But the true fast is this: Do\nnothing wickedly in thy life, but\nserve God with a pure mind; and\nkeep his commandments, and walk\naccording to his precepts, nor\nsuffer any wicked desire to enter\ninto the mind.\n\n6  But trust in the Lord, that if\nthou dost these things, any fearest\nhim, and abstaineth from every\nevil work, thou shall live unto\nGod.\n\n7  If thou shalt do this, thou\nshall perfect a great fast, and an\nacceptable one unto the Lord.\n\n8  Hearken unto the similitude\nwhich I am about to propose\nunto thee, as to this matter.\n\n9  A certain man having a farm,\nand many servants, planted a vineyard\nin a certain part of his estate for\nhis posterity:\n\n10  And taking a journey into\na far country, chose one of his\nservants which he thought the most\nfaithful and approved, and delivered\nthe vineyard into his care;\ncommanding him that he should\nstake up the vines. Which if he\ndid, and fulfilled his command, he\npromised to give him his liberty.\nNor did he command him to do\nany thing more; and so went into\na far country.\n\n11  And after that servant had\ntaken that charge upon him, he\ndid whatsoever his lord commanded\nhim. And when he had staked the\nvineyard, and found it to be full\nof weeds, he began to think within\nhimself, saying:\n\n12  I have done what my lord\ncommanded me, I will now dig\nthis vineyard, and when it is digged,\nit will be more beautiful; and the\nweeds being pulled up, it will\nbring forth more fruit and not be\nchoked by the weeds.\n\n13  So setting about this work\nhe digged it, and plucked up all\nthe weeds that were in it; and so\nthe vineyard became very beautiful\nand prosperous, not being choked\nwith weeds.\n\n14  After some time the lord of\nthe vineyard comes and goes into\nthe vineyard, and when he saw\nthat it was handsomely staked and\ndigged, and the weeds plucked up\nthat were in it, and the vines\nflourishing, he rejoiced greatly at\nthe care of his servant.\n\n15  And calling his son whom\nhe loved, and who was to be his\nheir, and his friends with whom\nhe was wont to consult; he tells\nthem what he had commanded his\nservant to do, and what his\nservant had done more; and they\nimmediately congratulated that\nservant, that he had received so\nfull a testimony from his lord.\n\n16  Then he said to them, I\nindeed promised this servant his\nliberty, if he observed the command\nwhich I gave him; and he observed it,\nand besides has done a good work\nto my vineyard, which has exceedingly\npleased me.\n\n17  Wherefore, for this work\nwhich he hath done, I will make\nhim my heir together with my\nson; because that when he saw\nwhat was good, he neglected it\nnot, but did it.\n\n18  This design of the lord both\nhis son and his friends approved,\nnamely, that his servant should be\nheir together with his son.\n\n19  Not long after this the master\nof the family calling together, his\nfriends, sent from his supper several\nkinds of food to that servant.\n\n20  Which when he had received,\nhe took so much of them as was\nsufficient for himself, and divided\nthe rest among his fellow-servants.\n\n21  Which when they had received,\nthey rejoiced; and wished that\nhe might find yet greater favour\nwith his lord, for what he had\ndone to them.\n\n22  When his lord heard all these\nthings, he was again filled with\ngreat joy: and calling again his\nfriends and his son together, he\nrelated to them what his servant\nhad done with the meats which he\nhad sent unto him.\n\n23  They therefore so much the\nmore assented to the master of the\nhousehold; and he ought to make\nthat servant his heir together with\nhis son.\n\n24  I said unto him, sir, I know\nnot these smilitudes, neither can\nI understand them, unless you\nexpound them unto me. I will,\nsays he, expound, all things unto\nthee whatsoever I have talked with\nthee, or shown unto thee.\n\n25  Keep the commandments of\nthe Lord and thou shalt be approved,\nand shall be written in the number\nof those that keep his commandments.\nBut if besides those things which\nthe Lord hath commanded, thou shalt\nadd some good thing; thou shall\npurchase to thyself a greater dignity,\nand be in more favour with the Lord\nthan thou shouldst otherwise have been.\n\n26  If therefore thou shalt keep\nthe commandments of the Lord,\nand shalt add to them these stations,\nthou shall rejoice; but especially\nif thou shalt keep them according\nto my commands.\n\n27  I said unto him, sir, whatsoever\nthou shah command me, I will observe;\nfor I know that thou wilt be with me.\nI will, said he, be with thee who hast\ntaken up such a resolution; and I will\nbe with all those who purpose in like\nmanner.\n\n28  This fast, saith he, whilst\nthou dost also observe the\ncommandments of the Lord, is\nexceeding good; therefore thus\nshalt thou keep it.\n\n29  First of all, take heed to\nthyself, and keep thyself from every\nwicked act, and from every filthy\nword, and from every hurtful desire;\nand purify thy mind from all the\nvanity of this present world. If\nthou shalt observe these things,\nthis fast shall be right.\n\n30  Thus therefore do.   Having\nperformed what is before written,\nthat day on which thou fastest\nthou shalt taste nothing at all but\nbread and water; and computing\nthe quantity of food which thou\nart want to eat upon other days,\nthou shalt lay aside the expense\nwhich thou shouldest have made\nthat day, and give it unto the\nwidow, the fatherless, and the\npoor.\n\n31  And thus thou shalt perfect\nthe humiliation of thy soul; that\nhe who receives of it may satisfy\nhis soul, and his prayer come up\nto the Lord God for thee.\n\n32  If therefore thou shalt thus\naccomplish thy fast, as I command\nthee, thy sacrifice shall be\nacceptable unto the Lord, and thy\nfast shall be written in his book.\n\n33  This station, thus performed,\nis good and pleasing and acceptable\nunto the Lord. These things if thou\nshalt observe with thy children and\nwith all thy house, thou shalt\nbe happy.\n\n34  And whosoever, when they\nhear these things, shall do them,\nthey also shall be happy; and\nwhatsoever they shall ask of the\nLord they shall receive it.\n\n35  And I prayed him that he\nwould expound unto me the similitude\nof the farm, and the Lord, and of\nthe vineyard, and of the servant\nthat had staked the vineyard;\nand of the weeds that were\nplucked out of the vineyard; and\nof his son and his friends which\nhe took into counsel with him;\nfor I understand that that was\na similitude.\n\n36  He said unto me, Thou art\nvery bold in asking; for thou\noughtest not to ask any thing;\nbecause if it be fitting to show it\nunto thee, it shall be showed unto\nthee.\n\n37  I answered him; Sir, whatsoever\nthou shalt show me, without explaining\nit unto me, I shall in vain see it,\nif I do not understand what it is.\nAnd if thou shalt propose any\nsimilitudes, and not expound them,\nI shall in vain hear them.\n\n38  He answered me again, saying:\nWhosoever is the servant of God,\nand has the Lord in his heart,\nhe desires understanding of him,\nand receives it; and he explains\nevery similitude, and understands\nthe words of the Lord which need\nan inquiry.\n\n39  But they that are lazy and\nslow to pray, doubt to seek from\nthe Lord: although the Lord be of\nsuch an extraordinary goodness,\nthat without ceasing he giveth all\nthings to them that ask of him.\n\n40  Thou therefore who art\nstrengthened by that venerable\nmessenger, and hast received such\na powerful gift of prayer; seeing\nthou art not slothful, why dost\nthou not now ask understanding of\nthe Lord, and receive it?\n\n41  I said unto him; seeing I\nhave thee present, it is necessary\nthat I should seek it of thee, and\nask thee; for thou shewest all\nthings unto me, and speakest to\nme when thou art present.\n\n42  But if I should see or hear\nthese things when thou wert not\npresent, I would then ask the Lord\nthat he would chew them unto me.\n\n43  And he replied, I said a\nlittle before that thou wert subtle\nand bold, in that thou asketh the\nmeaning of these similitudes.\n\n44  But because thou still persistest,\nI will unfold to thee this parable\nwhich then desirest, that thou mayest\nmake it known unto all men.\n\n45  Hear, therefore, said he,\nand understand. The farm before\nmentioned denotes the whole earth.\nThe Lord of the farm is he, who\ncreated and finished all things;\nand gave virtue unto them.\n\n46  His son is the Holy Spirit;\nthe servant is the Son of God: the\nvineyard is the people whom he\nsaves. The stakes are the messengers\nwhich are set oven them by the Lord,\nto support his people. The weeds\nthat are plucked up out of the\nvineyard, are the sins which\nthe servants of God had\ncommitted.\n\n47  The food which he sent him\nfrom his supper, are the commands\nwhich he gave to his people by his\nSon. The friends whom he called\nto counsel with him, are the holy\nangels whom he first created. The\nabsence of the master of the household,\nis the time that remains unto\nhis coming.\n\n48  I said unto him, Sir, all\nthese things are very excellent,\nand wonderful, and good. But,\ncontinued I, could I or any other\nman besides, though never so wise,\nhave understood these things?\n\n49  Wherefore now, sir, tell me,\nwhat I ask. He replied, ask me\nwhat thou wilt. Why, said I, is\nthe Son of God in this parable,\nput in the place of a servant.\n\n50  Hearken, he said: the Son\nof God is not put in the condition\nof a servant, but in great power\nand authority. I said unto him,\nhow, sir? I understand it not.\n\n51  Because, said he, the Son set\nhis messengers over those whom\nthe Father delivered unto him, to\nkeep every one of them; but he\nhimself laboured very much, and\nsuffered much, that he might blot\nout their offences.\n\n52  For no vineyard can be digged\nwithout much labour and pains.\nWherefore having blotted out the\nsins of his people, he showed to\nthem the paths of life, giving\nthem the law which he had\nreceived of the Father.\n\n53  You see, said he, that he is\nthe Lord of his people, having\nreceived all power from his Father.\nBut why the lord did take his\nson into counsel, about dividing\nthe inheritance, and the good\nangels, hear now.\n\n54  That Holy Spirit, which was\ncreated first of all, he placed in the\nbody in which God should dwell;\nnamely, in a chosen body, as it\nseemed good to him. This body\ntherefore into which the Holy\nSpirit was brought, served that\nSpirit, walking rightly and purely\nin modesty; nor ever defiled that\nSpirit.\n\n55  Seeing therefore the body at\nall times obeyed the Holy Spirit,\nand laboured rightly and chastely\nwith him, nor faltered at anytime;\nthat body being wearied conversed\nindeed servilely, but being\nmightily approved to God with\nthe Holy Spirit, was accepted by\nhim.\n\n56  For such a stout course\npleased God, because he was not\ndefiled in the earth, keeping the\nHoly Spirit. He called therefore\nto counsel his Son, and the good\nangels, that there might be some\nplace of standing given to this\nbody which had served the Holy\nSpirit without blame; lest it\nshould seem to have lost the\nreward of its service.\n\n57  For every pure body shall\nreceive its reward; that is found\nwithout spot, in which the Holy\nSpirit has been appointed to dwell.\nAnd thus you have now the exposition\nof this parable also.\n\n58  Sir, said I, I now understand\nyour meaning, since I have heard\nthis exposition. Hearken farther,\nsaid he: keep this thy body clean\nand pure, that the Spirit which\nshall dwell in it may bear witness\nunto it, and be judged to have\nbeen with thee.\n\n59  Also take heed that it be not\ninstilled into thy mind that this\nbody perishes, and thou abuse it\nto any lust. For if thou shalt\ndefile thy body, thou shalt also at\nthe same time defile the Holy\nSpirit; and if thou shalt defile\nthe Holy Spirit, thou shall not\nlive.\n\n60  And I said, What if through\nignorance this should have been\nalready committed, before a man\nheard these words; How can he\nattain into salvation, who has thus\ndefiled his body?\n\n61  He replied, As for men's former\nactions which through ignorance\nthey have committed, God only can\nafford a remedy unto them; for all\nthe power belongeth unto him.\n\n62  But now guard thyself; and\nseeing God is almighty and merciful,\nhe will grant a remedy to what thou\nhast formerly done amiss, if for the\ntime, to come thou shalt not defile\nthy body and spirit:\n\n63  For they are companions together,\nand the one cannot be defiled but the\nother will be so too. Keep therefore\nboth of them pure, and thou shalt\nlive unto God.\n\n\n\nSIMILITUDE VI.\n\n     Of two sorts of voluptuous men, and of\n     their death and defection; and of the\n     continuance of their pains.\n\nAS I was sitting at home, and\npraising God for all the things\nwhich I had seen; and was thinking\nconcerning the commands, that they\nwere exceedingly good, and great,\nand honest, and pleasant, and\nsuch as were able to bring a man\nto salvation; I said thus within\nmyself, I shall be happy if I walk\naccording to these commands; and\nwhosoever shall walk in them shall\nlive unto God.\n\n2  Whilst I was speaking on this\nwise within myself, I saw him\nwhom I had before been wont to\nsee, sitting by me; and he spake\nthus unto me:\n\n3  What doubtest thou concerning\nmy commands which I have delivered\nunto thee? They are good, doubt not,\nbut trust in the Lord, and thou shalt\nwalk in them; for I will give thee\nstrength to fulfil them.\n\n4  These commands are profitable\nto those who shall repent of the\nsins which they have formerly\ncommitted; if for the time to come\nthey shall not continue in them.\n\n5  Whosoever therefore ye be\nthat repent, cast away from you\nthe naughtiness of the present\nworld; and put on all virtue, and\nrighteousness, and so shall ye be\nable to keep these commands;\nand not sin from henceforth any\nmore.\n\n6  For if ye shall keep yourselves\nfrom sin for the time to come,\nye shall cut off a great deal\nof your former sins. Walk in my\ncommands, and ye shall live unto\nGod: These things have I spoken\nunto you.\n\n7  And when he, had said this,\nhe added; let us go into the field,\nand I will show thee shepherds of\nsheep. I replied, sir, let us go.\n\n8  And we came into a certain\nfield, and there he showed me a\nyoung shepherd, finely arrayed,\nwith his garments of a purple\ncolour. And he fed large flocks;\nand his sheep were full of pleasure,\nand in much delight and cheerfulness;\nand they skipping, ran here and there.\n\n9  And the shepherd took very\ngreat satisfaction in his flock; and\nthe countenance of that shepherd\nwas cheerful, running up and down\namong his flock.\n\n10  Then the angel said unto\nme, Seest then this shepherd?\nI answered, sir, I see him.\nHe said unto me, this is the\nmessenger of delight and pleasure.\nHe therefore corrupts the minds\nof the servants of God, and turns\nthem from the truth, delighting them\nwith many pleasures, and they perish.\n\n11   For they forget the commands\nof the living God, and live in\nluxury and in vain pleasures,\nand are corrupted by the evil\nangel, some of them even unto\ndeath; and others to a falling\naway.\n\n12  I replied; I understand not\nwhat you mean, by saying unto\ndeath, and to a falling away.\nHear, says he; all those sheep\nwhich thou sawest exceeding\njoyful, are such as have for ever\ndeparted from God, and given\nselves up to the lusts of this\npresent time.\n\n13  To these therefore there is\nno return, by repentance, unto\nlife; because, to their other sins\nthey have added this, that they\nhave blasphemed the name of the\nlord: These kind of men are\nordained unto death.\n\n14  But those sheep which thou\nsawest not leaping, but feeding in\none place; are such as have indeed\ngiven themselves up to pleasure\nand delights; but have not spoken\nanything wickedly against the Lord.\n\n15  These therefore are only\nfallen off from the truth, and so\nhave yet hope laid up for them in\nrepentance.  For such a falling off\nhath some hope still left of a\nrenewal; but they that are dead,\nare utterly gone for ever.\n\n16  Again we went a little farther\nforward, and he showed me a great\nshepherd, who had as it were a rustic\nfigure; clad with a white goat's skin,\nhaving his bag upon his shoulder,\nand in his hand a stick full of knots,\nand very hard, and a whip in his other\nhand; and his countenance was stern and\nsour, enough to affright a man;\nsuch was his look.\n\n17  He took from that young\nshepherd such sheep as lived in\npleasures, but did not skip up and\ndown; and drove them into a\ncertain steep craggy place fall of\nthorns and briars, insomuch that\nthey could not get themselves free\nfrom them:\n\n18  But being entangled in them,\nfed upon thorns and briars, and\nwere grievously tormented with\nhis whipping. For he still drove\nthem on, and afforded them not\nany place, or time, to stand still.\n\n19  When therefore I saw them so\ncruelly whipped and afflicted,\nI was grieved for them; because\nthey were greatly tormented, nor\nhad they any rest afforded them.\n\n20  And I said unto the shepherd\nthat was with me: Sir, who is this\ncruel and implacable shepherd, who\nis moved with no compassion towards\nthese sheep? He answered, This\nshepherd is indeed one of the holy\nangels, but is appointed for the\npunishment of sinners.\n\n21  To him therefore are delivered\nthose who have erred from God,\nand served the lusts and pleasures\nof this world. For this cause he\npunishes them every one according\nto their deserts, with cruel and\nvarious kinds of pains.\n\n22  Sir, said I, I would know\nwhat kind of pains they are which\nevery one undergoes? Hearken,\nsaid he; The several pains and\ntorments are those which men\nevery day undergo in their present\nlives.    For some  suffer losses;\nothers poverty; others divers\nsicknesses. Some are unsettled; others\nsuffer injuries from those that are\nunworthy; others fall under many\nother trials and inconveniences.\n\n23  For many with an unsettled\ndesign at many things, and it\nprofiteth them not; and they say\nthat they have not success in their\nundertakings.\n\n24  They do not call to their\nmind what they have done amiss,\nand they complain of the Lord.\nWhen therefore they shall have\nundergone all kind of vexation\nand inconvenience; then they are\ndelivered over to me for good\ninstruction, and are confirmed\nin the Faith of the Lord, and\nserve the Lord all the rest of\ntheir days with a pure mind.\n\n25 And when they begin to repent\nof their sins, then they call to\nmind their works which they have\ndone amiss, and give honour to\nGod, saying, that he is a just\nJudge, and they have deservedly\nsuffered all things according to\ntheir deeds.\n\n26 Then for what remains of\ntheir lives, they serve God with a\npure mind; and have success in\nall their undertakings, and receive\nfrom the Lord whatever they desire.\n\n27  And then they give thanks\nunto the Lord that they were\ndelivered unto me; nor do they\nsuffer any more cruelty.\n\n28  I said unto him; Sir, I entreat\nyou still to show me now one thing.\nWhat, said he, dost thou ask?\nI said unto him; Are they who\ndepart from the fear of God,\ntormented for the same time that\nthey enjoyed their false delight\nand pleasures? He answered me;\nthey are tormented for the same\ntime.\n\n29  And I said unto him; They\nare then tormented but little;\nwhereas they who enjoy their\npleasures so as to forget God,\nought to endure seven times as\nmuch punishment.\n\n30  He answered me; Thou art\nfoolish, neither understandest thou\nthe efficacy of this punishment.\nI said unto him; Sir, if I understood\nit, I would not desire you to tell me.\n\n31  Hearken, said he, and learn\nwhat the force of both is, both of\nthe pleasure and of the punishment.\nAn hour of pleasure is terminated\nwithin its own space: but one hour\nof punishment has the efficacy of\nthirty days.   a Whosoever therefore\nenjoys his false pleasure for one day,\nand is one day, tormented; that one\nday of punishment is equivalent to\na whole year's space.\n\n32 Thus look how many days\nany one pursues his pleasures, so\nmany years is he punished for it.\nYou see therefore how that the\ntime of worldly enjoyments is but\nshort; but that of pain and torments,\na great deal more.\n\n33  I replied; Sir, forasmuch as\nI do not understand at all these\ntimes of pleasure and pain; I\nentreat you that you would explain\nyourself more clearly concerning\nthem. He answered me, saying;\nThy foolishness still sticks unto\nthee.\n\n34.  Shouldst thou not rather\npurify thy mind, and serve God?\nTake heed, lest when thy time is\nfulfilled, thou be found still\nunwise. Hear then, as thou desirest,\nthat thou mayest the more easily\nunderstand.\n\n35  He that gives himself up one\nday to his pleasures and delights,\nand does whatsoever his soul desires,\nis full of great folly, nor understands\nwhat he does, but the day following\nforgets what he did the day before.\n\n36  For delight and worldly\npleasure are not kept in memory,\nby reason of the folly that is rooted\nin them.  But when pain and torment\nbefal a man a day, he is in effect\ntroubled the whole year after;\nbecause his punishment continues\nfirm in his memory.\n\n37  Wherefore he remembers it\nwith sorrow the whole year; and\nthen calls to mind his vain pleasure\nand delight, and perceives that for\nthe sake of that he was punished.\n\n38  Whosoever therefore have\ndelivered themselves over to such\npleasures, are thus punished; because\nthat when they had life, they rendered\nthemselves liable to death.\n\n39  I said unto him; Sir, what\npleasures are hurtful? He answered;\nThat is pleasure to every man\nwhich he doth willingly.\n\n40  For the angry man, gratifying\nhis passion, perceives pleasure\nin it; and so the adulterer, and\ndrunkard; the slanderer and liar;\nthe covetous man and the defrauder;\nand whosoever commits anything like\nunto these, he followeth his evil\ndisposition, because he receives\na satisfaction in the doing of it.\n\n41  All these pleasures and delights\nare hurtful to the servants of God.\nFor these therefore they are tormented\nand suffer punishment.\n\n42  There are also pleasures that\nbring salvation unto men. For many,\nwhen they do what is good, find\npleasure in it, and are attracted\nby the delights of it.\n\n43  Now this pleasure is profitable\nto the servants of God, and brings\nlife to such men; but those hurtful\npleasures, which were before mentioned,\nbring torments and punishment.\n\n44  And whosoever shall continue\nin them, and shall not repent of\nwhat they have done, shall bring\ndeath upon themselves.\n\n\n\nSIMILITUDE VII.\n\n     That they who repent, must bring forth,\n     fruits worthy of repent once.\n\nAFTER a few days I saw the\nsame person that before talked\nwith me, in the same field, in\nwhich I had seen those shepherds,\nAnd he said unto me; What seekest\nthou? Sir, said I, I came to entreat\nyou that You would command the\nshepherd, who is the minister of\npunishment, to depart out of my\nhouse, because he greatly afflicts\nme.\n\n3  And he answered, It is necessary\nfor thee to endure inconveniencies\nand vexations; for so that good angel\nhath commanded concerning thee,\nbecause he would try thee.\n\n4  Sir, said I; What so great\noffence have I committed, that I\nshould be delivered to this messenger?\nHearken, said he: Thou art indeed\nguilty of many sins, yet not so\nmany that thou shouldest be\ndelivered to this messenger.\n\n5  But thy house hath committed\nmany sins and offences, and therefore\nthat good messenger being grieved\nat their doings commanded that for\nsome time thou shouldst suffer\naffliction; that they may both\nrepent of what they have done, and\nmay wash themselves from all the\nlusts of this present world.\n\n6  When therefore they shall have\nrepented, and be purified, then that\nmessenger which is appointed over\nthy punishment, shall depart from\nthee.\n\n7  I said unto him; Sir, if they\nhave behaved themselves so as to\nanger that good angel, yet what\nhave I done? He answered: They\ncannot otherwise be afflicted,\nunless thou, who art the head\nof the family, suffer.\n\n8  For whatsoever thou shalt\nsuffer, they must needs feel it\nbut as long as thou shalt stand\nwell established, they cannot\nexperience any vexation.\n\n9  I replied; But, sir, behold\nthey also now repent with all their\nhearts. I know, says he, that they\nrepent with all their hearts; but\ndost thou therefore think that their\noffences who repent, are immediately\nblotted out.\n\n10  No, they are not presently;\nbut he that repents must afflict his\nsoul and show himself humble in\nall his affairs, and undergo many\nand divers vexations.\n\n11  And when he shall have suffered\nall things that were appointed for him;\nthen perhaps HE that made him, and\nformed all things besides, will be\nmoved with compassion towards him,\nand afford him some remedy; and\nespecially if HE shall perceive\nhis heart who repents, to be free\nfrom every evil work.\n\n12  But at present it is expedient\nfor thee, and for thy house, to be\ngrieved; and it is needful that\nthou shoudest endure much vexation,\nas the angel of the Lord who committed\nthee unto me, has commanded.\n\n13  Rather give thanks unto the\nLord, that knowing what was to\ncome he thought thee worthy, to\nwhom he should foretel that trouble\nwas coming upon thee, who art able\nto bear it.\n\n14  I said unto him; Sir, but be\nthou also with me, and I shall\neasily undergo any trouble. I will,\nsaid he, be with thee; and I will\nentreat the messenger who is set\nover thy punishment, that he\nwould moderate his afflictions\ntowards thee.\n\n15  And moreover thou shalt\nsuffer adversity but for a little\ntime; and then thou shalt again\nbe restored to thy former state;\nonly continue on in the humility\nof thy mind.\n\n16  Obey the Lord with a pure\nheart; thou, and thy house, and\nthy children; and. walk in the\ncommands which I have delivered\nunto thee; and then thy repentance\nmay be firm and pure.\n\n17  And if thou shalt keep\nthese things with thy house, thy\ninconveniencies shall depart from thee.\n\n18  And all vexation shall in like\nmanner depart from those, whosoever\nshall walk according to these commands.\n\n\n\nSIMILITUDE VIII.\n\n     That there are many kinds of elect, and of\n     repenting sinners: and how all of theca shall\n     receive a reward proportionable to the measure\n     of their repentance and good works.\n\nAGAIN he showed me a willow\nwhich covered the fields and\nthe mountains, under whose shadow\ncame all such as were called by\nthe name of the Lord.\n\n2  And by that willow stood an.\nangel of the Lord very excellent\nand lofty, and did cut down bows\nfrom the willow with a great\nhook; and reached out to the people\nthat were under the shadow of the\nwillow, little rods, as it were\nabout a foot long.\n\n3  And when all of them had\ntaken them, he laid aside his hook,\nand the tree continued entire, as I\nhad before seen it; at which I\nwondered, and mused within myself.\n\n4  Then that shepherd said unto\nme; Forbear to wonder that the\ntree continues whole,\nnot-with-standing so many boughs have\nbeen cut off from it: but stay a\nlittle, for now it shall be shown\nthee, what that angel means, who\ngave those rods to the people.\n\n5  So he again demanded the\nrods of them; and in the same\norder that every one had received\nthem, was he called to him, and\nrestored his rod; which when he\nhad received, he examined them.\n\n6  From some he received them\ndry and rotten, and as it were\ntouched with the moth; those he\ncommanded to be separated from\nthe rest, and placed by themselves.\nOthers gave in their rods dry\nindeed, but not touched with the\nmoth: these also he ordered to be\nset by themselves.\n\n7  Others gave in their rods half\ndry; these also were set apart,\nOthers gave in their rods half dry\nand cleft; these too were set by\nthemselves. Others brought in\ntheir rods half dry and half green,\nand these were in like manner\nplaced by themselves.\n\n8  Others delivered up their rods\ntwo parts green, and the third\ndry; and they too were set apart.\nOthers brought their rods two\nparts dry, and the third green;\nand were also placed by themselves.\n\n9  Others delivered up their rods\nless dry (for there was but a very\nlittle, to wit, their tops dry), but\nthey had clefts, and these were set\nin like manner by themselves. In\nthe rods of others there was but a\nlittle green, and the rest dry; and\nthese were set aside by themselves.\n\n10  Others came, and brought\ntheir rods green as they had\nreceived them, and the greatest\npart of the people brought their\nrods thus; and the messenger\ngreatly rejoiced at these, and they\nalso were put apart by themselves.\n\n11  Others brought in their rods\nnot only green, but full of branches;\nand these were set aside, being\nalso received by the angel\nwith great joy. Others brought\ntheir rods green with branches,\nand those also some fruit upon\nthem.\n\n12  They who had such rods,\nwere very cheerful; and the angel\nhimself took great joy at them;\nnor was the shepherd that stood\nwith me, less pleased with them.\n\n13  Then the angel of the Lord\ncommanded crowns to be brought,\nand the crowns were brought made\nof palms; and the angel crowned\nthose men in whose rods he found\nthe young branches with fruit, and\ncommanded them to go into the\ntower.\n\n14  He also sent those into the\ntower, in whose hands he found\nbranches without fruit, giving a\nseal unto them. For they had the\nsame garment, that is, one white\nas snow; with which he bade them\ngo into the tower   And so he did\nto those who returned their rods\ngreen as they had received them;\ngiving them a white garment, and\nso sent them away to go into the\ntower.\n\n15  Having done this, he said to\nthe shepherd that was with me,\nI go my way; but do thou send\nthese within the walls, every one\ninto the place in which he has\ndeserved to dwell; examining first\ntheir rods, but examine them\ndiligently that no one deceive thee;\nand if any one shall escape thee,\nI will try them upon the altar.\nHaving said this to the shepherd,\nhe departed.\n\n16  After he was gone, the shepherd\nsaid unto me; Let us take the rods\nfrom them, and plant them; if\nperchance they may grow green again.\nI said unto him; Sir, how can those\ndry rods ever grow green again?\n\n17  He answered me; That tree.\nis a willow, and always loves to\nlive. If therefore these rods shall\nbe planted, and receive a little\nmoisture, many of them will\nrecover themselves.\n\n18  Wherefore I will try, and\nwill pour water upon them, and if\nany of them can live, I will rejoice\nwith them; but if not, at least by\nthis means I shall be found not\nto have neglected my part.\n\n19  Then he commanded me to\ncall them; and they all came\nunto him, every one in the rank\nin which he stood, and gave him\ntheir rods; which having received\nhe planted every one of them in\ntheir several orders.\n\n20  And after he had planted\nthem all, he poured much water\nupon them, insomuch that they\nwere covered with water, and did\nnot appear above it. Then when\nhe had watered them, he said unto\nme; Let us depart, and after a\nlittle time we will return and visit\nthem.\n\n21  For he who created this tree,\nwould have all those live that\nreceived rods from it.   And I hope\nnow that these rods are thus\nwatered, many of them receiving\nin the moisture, will recover:\n\n22  I said unto him, Sir, tell\nme what this tree denotes? For I\nam greatly astonished, that after\nso many branches have been cut\noff, it seems still to be whole:\nnor does there any thing the less\nof it appear to remain, which\ngreatly amazes me.\n\n23  He answered, Hearken. This\ngreat tree which covers the plains\nand the mountains, and all the\nearth, is the law of God, published\nthroughout the whole world.\n\n24  Now this law is the Son of\nGod, who is preached to all the\nends of the earth. The people\nthat stand under its shadow, are\nthose which have heard his preaching,\nand believed.\n\n25  The great and venerable\nangel which you saw, was Michael\nwho had the power over his people,\nand governs them. For he has\nplanted the law in the hearts\nof those who have believed: and\ntherefore he visits them to whom\nlie has given the law, to see if\nthey have kept it.\n\n26  And he examines every\none's rod; and of those, many that\nare weakened: for those rods are\nthe law of the Lord. Then he discerns\nall those who have not kept the law,\nknowing the place of every one of them.\n\n27  I said unto him, Sir, why\ndid he send away some to the\ntower, and left others here to you?\nHe replied, those who have\ntransgressed the law, which they\nreceived from him, are left in my\npower, that they may repent of\ntheir sins: but they who fulfilled\nthis law and kept it, are under his\npower.\n\n28 But who then, said I, are\nthose, who went into the tower\ncrowned? He replied, all such as\nhaving striven with the devil, have\novercome him, are crowned: and\nthey are those, who have suffered\nhard things, that they might keep\nthe law.\n\n29  But they who gave up their\nrods green, and with young\nbranches, but without fruit, have\nindeed endured trouble for the\nsame law, but have not suffered\ndeath; neither have they denied\ntheir holy law.\n\n30  They who delivered up their\nrods green as they received them,\nare those who were modest and\njust, and have lived with a\nvery pure mind, and kept the\ncommandments of God.\n\n31  The rest thou shalt know,\nwhen I shall have considered those\nrods which I have planted and\nwatered.\n\n32  After a few days we returned,\nand in the same place stood that\nglorious angel, and I stood by him.\nThen he said unto me; Gird thyself\nwith a towel, and serve me.\n\n33  And I girded myself with\na clean towel, which was made of\ncoarse cloth. And when he saw\nme girded, and ready to minister\nunto him, he said, Call those men\nwhose rods have been planted,\nevery one in his order as he\ngave them.\n\n34  And he brought me into the\nfield, and I called them all,\nand they all stood ready in their\nseveral ranks. Then he said unto\nthem; let every one pluck up his\nrod, and bring it unto me. And\nfirst they delivered theirs, whose\nrods had been dry and rotten.\n\n35  And those whose rods still\ncontinued so, he commanded to\nstand apart. Then they came\nwhose rods had been dry but not\nrotten. Some of these delivered.\nin their rods green; others dry\nand rotten, as if they had been\ntouched by the moth.\n\n36  Those who gave them up\ngreen, he commanded to stand\napart: but those whose rods were\ndry and rotten, he caused to stand\nwith the first sort. Then came\nthey whose rods had been half\ndry, and cleft: many of these\ngave up their rods green, and\nuncleft.\n\n37  Others delivered them up\ngreen with branches, like unto\ntheirs who went crowned into the\ntower. Others delivered them\nup dry, but not rotten; and some\ngave them up as they were before,\nall dry, and cleft.\n\n38  Every one of these he ordered\nto stand apart; some by themselves,\nothers in their respective ranks.\n\n32  Then came they whose rods\nhad been green, but cleft. These\ndelivered their rods altogether\ngreen, and stood in their own\norder. And the shepherd rejoiced\nat these, because they were all\nchanged, and free from their\nclefts.\n\n40  Then they gave in their rods,\nwho had them half green and\nhalf dry. Of these some were\nfound wholly green, others half\ndry: others green, with young\nshoots.   And all these were sent\naway, every one to his proper\nrank.\n\n41  Then they gave up their\nrods, who had them before two\nparts green, and the third dry.\nMany of those gave in their rods\ngreen; many half dry; the rest\ndry but not rotten. So these were\nsent away, each to his proper\nplace.\n\n42  Then came they who before\nhad their rods two parts dry and\nthe third green; many of these\ndelivered up their rods half dry,\nothers dry and rotten; others half\ndry and cleft: but few green. And\nall these were set every one in his\nown rank.\n\n43  Then they reached in their\nrods, in which there was before\nbut a little green, and the rest\ndry. Their rods were for the\nmost part found green, having\nlittle boughs, with fruit upon\nthem; and the rest altogether\ngreen.\n\n44  And the shepherd upon sight\nof these rejoiced exceedingly,\nbecause he had found them thus;\nand they also went to their\nproper orders.\n\n45  Now after he had examined\nall their rods, he said unto me,\nI told thee that this tree loved\nlife thou seest how many have\nrepented, and attained unto\nsalvation. Sir, said I, I see it.\n\n46  That thou mightest know\nsaith he, that the goodness and\nmercy of the Lord is great, and\nto be had in honour; who gave\nhis spirit to them that were found\nworthy of repentance.\n\n47  I answered, Sir, why then\ndid not all of them repent? He\nreplied, Those whose minds the\nLords foresaw would be pure, and\nthat they would serve him with\nall their hearts, to them he gave\nrepentance.\n\n48  But for those whose deceit\nand wickedness he beheld, and\nperceived that they would not\ntruly return unto him; to them\nhe denied any return unto\nrepentance, lest they should again\nblaspheme his law with wicked\nwords.\n\n49  I said unto him; Now, Sir,\nmake known unto me, what is the\nplace of every one of those, who\nhave given up their rods, and\nwhat their portion; that when\nthey may have not kept their seal\nentire, but have wasted the seal\nwhich they received, shall hear\nand believe these thins, and may\nacknowledge their evil deeds and\nrepent;\n\n50  And receiving again their\nseal from you, may give glory to\nGod, that he was moved with\ncompassion towards them, and sent\nyou to renew their spirits.\n\n51  Hearken, said he; they\nwhose rods have been found\nand rotten, and as it were touch\nwith the moth; are the deserters\nand the betrayers of the church;\n\n52  Who with the rest of their\ncrimes, have also blasphemed the\nLord, and denied his name when\nhe had called upon them. Therefore\nall these are dead unto God\nand thou seest that none of them\nhave repented, although they\nhave heard my commands which\nthou bast delivered unto them.\nFrom these men therefore life is\nfar distant.\n\n53 They also who have delivered\nup their rods dry, but not rotten,\nhave not been far from them. For\nthey have been counterfeits,\nand brought in evil doctrines,\nand have perverted the servants\nof God, especially those\nwho had sinned; not suffering\nthem to return unto repentance,\nbut keeping them back by their\nfalse doctrines.\n\n54  These therefore have hope;\nand thou seest that many of them\nhave repented, since the time\nthat thou hast laid my commands\nbefore them; and many more\nwill yet repent. But they, that\nshall not repent; shall lose both\nrepentance and life.\n\n55  But they that have repented,\ntheir place is begun to be within\nthe first walls, and some of them\nare even gone into the tower.\nThou seest therefore, said he, that\nin the repentance of sinners there\nis life; but for those who repent\nnot, death is prepared.\n\n56  Hear now   concerning\nthose who gave in their rods half\ndry and full of clefts. Those whose\nrods were only half dry, are the\ndoubtful; for they are neither\nliving nor dead.\n\n57  But they who delivered in\ntheir rods, not only half dry but\nalso full of clefts, are both doubtful\nand evil speakers; who detract from\nthose that are absent, and have\nnever peace among themselves,\nand who envy one another.\n\n58  Howbeit, to those also\nrepentance is offered; for thou\nseest that some of these have\nrepented.\n\n59  Now all those of this kind\nwho have quickly repented, shall\nhave a place in the tower; and\nthey who have been more slow in\ntheir repentance, shall dwell\nwithin the walls: but they that shall\nnot repent, and shall continue on\nin their wicked doings, shall die\nthe death.\n\n60  As for those who had their\nrods green, but yet cleft; they\nare such as were always faithful\nand good, but they had some envy\nand strife among themselves\nconcerning dignity and pre-eminence.\n\n61  Now all such as are vain, and\nwithout understanding, contend\nwith one another about these\nthings.\n\n62  Nevertheless, seeing they\nare otherwise good, if when they\nshall hear these commands they\nshall amend themselves, and shall\nat my persuasion suddenly repent;\nthey shall at last dwell in the\ntower, like those who have truly\nand worthily repented.\n\n63  But if any one shall again\nreturn to his dissension; he shall\nbe shut out from the tower, and\nshall lose his life. For the life\nof those who keep the commandments\nof the Lord, consists in doing\nwhat they are commanded; not in\nprincipality, or in any other\ndignity.\n\n64  For by forbearance and humility\nof mind, men shall attain unto life;\nbut by seditions and contempt of the\nlaw, they shall purchase death unto\nthemselves.\n\n65  They who in their rods\nhad half dry and half green, are\nthose who are engaged in many\naffairs of the world, and are not\njoined to the saints. For which\ncause half of them liveth, and\nhalf is dead.\n\n66  Wherefore many of these\nsince the time that they have\nheard my commands, have repented,\nand begun to dwell in the tower.\nBut some of them have\nwholly fallen away; to these there\nis no more place for repentance.\n\n67  For by reason of their present\ninterests, they have blasphemed\nand denied God: and for this\nwickedness they have lost life.\nAnd of these many are still in\ndoubt, yet these may return; and\nif they shall quickly repent, they\nshall have a place in the tower;\nbut if they shall be more slow,\nthey shall dwell within the walls;\nbut if they shall not repent, they\nshall die.\n\n68  As for those who had two\nparts of their rods green, and the\nthird dry; they have by manifold\nways denied the Lord. Of these\nmany have repented, and found\na place in the tower: and many\nhave altogether departed from\nGod. These have utterly lost life.\n\n69  And some being in a doubtful\nstate, have raise up dissensions:\nthese may yet return, if they\nshall suddenly repent and not\ncontinue in their lusts; but if\nthey shall continue in their\nevil-doing they shall die.\n\n70  They who gave in their\nrods two parts dry, and the other\nbeen, are those who have indeed\nbeen faithful, but withal rich and\nfull of good things; and thereupon\nhave desired to be famous\namong the heathen which are\nwithout, and have thereby fallen\ninto great pride, and begun to\naim at high matters, and to\nforsake the truth.\n\n71  Nor were they joined to the\nsaints, but lived with the heathen;\nand this life seemed the more pleasant\nto them. Howbeit they have not\ndeparted from God, but continued\nin the faith; only they have\nnot wrought the works of faith.\n\n72  Many therefore of these have\nrepented; and begun to dwell in\nthe tower. Yet others still living\namong the heathen. people, and\nbeing lifted up with their vanities,\nhave utterly fallen away from\nGod, and followed the works and\nwickedness of the heathen.\nThese kind of men therefore are\nreckoned among strangers to the\nGospel.\n\n73 Others of these began to be\ndoubtful in their minds; despairing\nby reason of their wicked doings\never to attain unto salvation\nOthers being thus made doubtful,\ndid moreover stir up dissensions.\n\n74  To these therefore, and to\nthose who by reason of their doings\nare become doubtful, there is still\nhope of return; but they must repent\nquickly, that their place may be in\nthe tower. But they that repent not,\nand continue still in their pleasures,\nare nigh unto death.\n\n75   As for those who gave in\ntheir rods green, excepting their\ntops, which only were dry, and\nhad clefts; these were always\ngood, and faithful, and upright\nbefore God: nevertheless they\nsinned a little, by reason of their\nempty pleasures and trifling\nthoughts which they had within\nthemselves.\n\n76  Wherefore many of them\nwhen they heard my words,\nrepented forthwith, and began to\ndwell in the tower. Nevertheless\nsome grew doubtful, and others\nto their doubtful minds added\ndissensions. To these therefore\nthere is still hope of return,\nbecause they were always good;\nbut they shall not hardly be moved.\n\n77  As for those, lastly, who\ngave in their rods dry, their tops\nonly excepted, which alone were\ngreen; they are such as have\nbelieved indeed in God, but have\nlived in wickedness; yet without\ndeparting from God: having always\nwillingly borne the name of the\nLord, and readily received into\ntheir houses the servants of God.\n\n78  Wherefore hearing these\nthings they returned, and without\ndelay repented, and lived in all\nrighteousness. And some of them\nsuffered death: others readily\nunderwent many trials, being\nmindful of their evil doings.\n\n79  If And when he had ended\nhis explications of all the rods,\nhe said unto me, Go, and say unto\nall men that they repent, and they\nshall live unto God; because the\nLord being moved with great\nclemency hath sent me to preach\nrepentance unto all:\n\n80  Even unto those who by\nreason of their evil doings, deserve\nnot to attain unto salvation. But\nthe Lord will by patient, and keep\nthe invitation that was made by\nhis Son.\n\n81  I said unto him, sir, I hope\nthat all when they shall hear these\nthings, will repent. For I trust\nthat everyone acknowledging his\ncrimes, and taking up the fear\nof the Lord, will return unto\nrepentance.\n\n82  He said unto me, Whosoever\nshall repent with all their\nhearts, and cleanse themselves\nfrom all the evils that I have\nbefore mentioned, and not add\nanything more to their sins,\nshall receive from the Lord cure\nof their former iniquities, if they do\nnot make any doubt of these commands,\nand shall live unto God.\n\n83  But they that shall continue\nto add to their transgressions, and\nstill converse with the lusts of\nthe present world, shall condemn\nthemselves unto death. But do\nthou walk in these commands, and\nwhosoever shall Walk in these, and\nexercise them rightly, shall live\nunto God.\n\n84  And having showed me all\nthese things, he said; I will show\nthee the rest in a few days.\n\n\n\nSIMILITUDE IX.\n\n     The greatest mysteries of the militant and\n     triumphant Church which is to be built.\n\nAFTER I had Written the Commands\nand similitudes of the Shepherd,\nthe Angel of Repentance came unto\nme, and said to me, I will show\nthee all those things which the\nSpirit spake with thee under\nthe figure of the church. For\nthat Spirit is the Son of God.\n\n2  And because thou wert weak\nin body, it was not declared unto\nthee by the angel, until thou wert\nstrengthened by the Spirit, and\nincreased in force, that thou\nmightest also see the angel:\n\n3  For then indeed the building\nof the tower was very well and\ngloriously shown unto thee by the\nchurch; nevertheless thou sawest\nall things shown unto thee as it\nwere by a virgin.\n\n4  But now thou art enlightened\nby the angel, and yet by the same\nSpirit. But thou must consider\nall things diligently; for therefore\nam I sent into thy house by that\nvenerable messenger, that when\nthou shalt have seen all things\npowerfully, thou mayest not be\nafraid as before.\n\n5  And he led me to the height\nof a mountain in Arcadia, and we\nsat upon its top. And he showed\nme a great plain, and about it\ntwelve mountains in different\nfigures.\n\n6  The first was black as soot.\nThe second was smooth, without\nherbs. The third was full of\nthorns and thistles. The fourth\nhad herbs half dried; of which\nthe upper part was green, but that\nnext the root was dry; and some\nof the herbs, when the sun grew\nhot, were dry.\n\n7  The fifth mountain was very\nrugged; but yet had green herbs.\nThe sixth mountain was full of\nclefts, some lesser, and some\ngreater; and in these clefts grew\ngrass, not flourishing, but which\nseemed to be withering.\n\n8  The seventh mountain had\ndelightful pasture, and was wholly\nfruitful; and all kinds of cattle,\nand of the birds of heaven; fed\nupon it; and the more they fed\non it, the more and better did the\ngrass grow.\n\n9  The eighth mountain was full\nof fountains, and from those\nfountains were watered all kinds of\nthe creatures of Cod. The ninth\nmountain had no water at all, but\nwas wholly destitute of it; and\nnourished deadly serpents, very\ndestructive to men.\n\n10  The tenth mountain was full\nof tall trees, and altogether shady;\nand under the shade of them lay\ncattle resting and chewing the cud.\n\n11  The eleventh mountain was\nfull of the thickest trees, and\nthose trees seemed to be loaded\nwith several sorts of fruits; that\nwhosoever saw them could not choose\nbut desire to eat of their fruit.\n\n12  The twelfth mountain was\naltogether white, and of a most\npleasant aspect, and itself gave a\nmost excellent beauty to itself.\n\n13  In the middle of the plain\nhe showed me a huge white rock,\nwhich rose out of the plain, and\nthe rock was higher than those\nmountains, and was square; so\nthat it seemed capable of supporting\nthe whole world.\n\n14  It looked to me to be old,\nyet it had in it a new gate, which\nseemed to have been newly hewn\nout of it. Now that gate was\nbright beyond the sun itself;\ninsomuch, that I greatly wondered\nat its light.\n\n15 About the gate stood twelve\nvirgins; of which four that stood\nat the corners of the gate, seemed\nto me to be the chiefest, although\nthe rest were also of worth: and\nthey stood in the four parts of the\ngate.\n\n16  It added also to the grace of\nthose virgins, that they stood in\npairs, clothed with linen garments,\nand decently girded, their right\narms being at liberty, as if they\nwere about to lift up some burthen;\nfor so they were adorned, and were\nexceeding cheerful and ready.\n\n17  When I saw this, I wondered\nwith myself to see such great\nand noble things. And again I\nadmired upon the account of those\nvirgins, that they were so handsome\nand delicate; and stood with such\nfirmness and constancy, as if they\nwould carry the whole heaven.\n\n18  And as I was thinking thus\nwithin myself, the shepherd said\nunto me; What thickest thou within\nthyself? Why art thou disquieted,\nand fillest thyself with care?\n\n19  Do not seem to consider, as\nif thou wert wise, what thou doest\nnot understand, but pray unto the\nLord, that thou mayest have ability\nto understand it. What is to come\nthou canst not understand, but\nthou seest that which is before\nthee.\n\n20  Be not therefore disquieted\nat those things which thou canst\nnot see; but get the understanding\nof those which thou seest.\n\n21  Forbear to be curious; and\nI will show thee all things that I\nought to declare unto thee: but\nfirst consider what yet remains.\n\n22  And when he had said this unto\nme I looked up, and behold I saw\nsix tall and venerable men coming;\ntheir countenances were all alike,\nand they called a certain multitude\nof men; and they who came at their\ncall were also tall and stout.\n\n23  And those six commanded\nthem to build a certain tower over\nthat gate. And immediately there\nbegan to be a great noise of those\nmen running here and there about\nthe gate, who were come together\nto build the tower.\n\n24  But those virgins which stood\nabout the gate perceived that the\nbuilding of the tower was to be\nhastened by them. And they\nstretched out their hands, as if\nthey were to receive somewhat\nfrom them to do.\n\n25  Then those six men commanded,\nthat they should lift up stones\nout of a certain deep place,\nand prepare them for the building\nof the tower. And there were\nlifted up ten white stones, square,\nand not cut round.\n\n26  Then those six men called\nthe ten virgins to them, and\ncommanded them to carry all the\nstones that were to be put into\nthe building, and having carried\nthem through the gate to deliver\nthem to those that were about to\nbuild the tower.\n\n27  Immediately the virgins began\nall of them together to lift up\nthose stones, that were before\ntaken out of the deep.\n\n28  And they who also stood about\nthe gate did carry stones in such\na manner, that those stones which\nseemed to be the strongest were\nlaid at the corners, and the rest\nwere put into the sides;\n\n29  And thus they carried all the\nstones, and bringing them through\nthe gate delivered them to the\nbuilders, as they had been\ncommanded: who receiving them\nat their hands, built with them.\n\n30  But this building was made\nupon that great rock, and over the\ngate; and by these the whole tower\nwas supported. But the building\nof the ten stones filled the whole\ngate, which began to be made for\nthe foundation of that tower.\n\n31  After those ten stones did\nfive and twenty others rise up\nout of the deep; and these were\nplaced in the building of the same\ntower; being lifted up by those\nvirgins, as the others had been\nbefore.\n\n32 After these did fire and thirty\nothers rise up; and these were also\nin like manner fitted into the same\nwork. Then forty other stones were\nbrought up, and all these were added\nunto the building of that tower.\n\n33  So there began to be four\nranks in the foundation of that\ntower; and the stones ceased to\nrise out of the deep; and they\nalso which built rested a little.\n\n34  Again, those six men commanded\nthe multitude, that they should\nbring stones out of those twelve\nmountains to the building of the\nsame tower.\n\n35  So they cut out of all the\nmountains stones of divers colours,\nand brought them and gave them to\nthe virgins; which when they had\nreceived they carried them, and\ndelivered them into the building\nof the tower.\n\n36 In which when they were built\nthey became white, and different\nfrom what they were before; for\nthey were all alike, and did\nchange their former colours.\nAnd some were reached up by the\nmen themselves, which when they\ncame into the building, continued\nsuch is they were put in.\n\n37  These neither became white,\nnor different from what they were\nbefore; because they were not\ncarried by the virgins through\nthe gate. Wherefore these stones\nwere disagreeable in the building;\nwhich, when these six men perceived\nthey commanded them to be removed,\nand put again in the place from\nwhich they were brought.\n\n38  And they said to those who\nbrought these stones; Do not ye\nreach up to us any stones for this\nbuilding, but lay them down by\nthe tower, that these virgins may\ncarry them and reach them to us.\n\n39  For unless they shall be\ncarried by these virgins through\nthis gate, they cannot change their\ncolours: therefore do not labour\nin vain.\n\n40  So the building that day\nwas done; howbeit the tower was\nnot finished, for it was afterwards\nto be built; therefore now also\nthere was some delay made of it.\n\n41  And these six men commanded\nthose that built to depart, and\nas it were to rest for some time;\nbut they ordered those virgins\nthat they should not depart from\nthe tower; so now they seemed\nto me to be left for the guarding\nof it.\n\n42  When all were departed,\nI said unto the shepherd; Sir,\nwhy is not the building of the\ntower finished? Because it cannot,\nsaid he, be finished until its Lord\ncomes, and approves of the building;\nthat if he shall find any stones\nin it that are not good they may\nbe changed; for this tower is built\naccording to his will.\n\n43  Sir, said I, I would know\nwhat the building of this tower\nsignifies; as also I would be\ninformed concerning this rock,\nand this gate;\n\n44  And concerning the mountains,\nand the virgins, and the stones\nthat did rise out of the deep,\nand were not cut, but put into\nthe building just as they came\nforth; and why the ten stones\nwere first laid in the foundation;\nthen the twenty-five, then thirty-\nfive; then forty?\n\n45  Also concerning those stones\nthat were put into the building,\nand again taken out, and carried\nback into their places? Fulfil, I\npray, the desire of my soul as to\nall these things, and manifest all\nunto me.\n\n46  And he said unto me; If thou\nshalt not be dull, thou shall\nknow all, and shall see all the\nother things that are about to\nhappen in this, tower: and shall\nunderstand diligently all these\nsimilitudes.\n\n47  And after a few days we\ncame into the same place where\nwe had sat before; and he said\nunto me, Let us go unto the\ntower; for the Lord of it will\ncome and examine it.\n\n48  So we came thither, and\nfound none but those virgins there.\nAnd he asked them whether the\nLord of that tower was come\nthither? And they replied, that\nhe would be there presently to\nexamine the building.\n\n49  After a very little while I\nsaw a great multitude of men\ncoming, and in the middle of them\na man so tall, that he surpassed\nthe tower in height.\n\n50  About him were those six,\nwho before commanded in the\nbuilding, and all the rest of\nthose who had built that tower,\nand many others of great dignity:\nand the virgins that kept the tower\nran to meet him, and kissed him,\nand began to walk near unto him.\n\n51  But he examined the building\nwith so much care, that he handled\nevery stone; and struck every one\nwith a rod which he held in his hand:\n\n52  Of which some being so struck\nturned black as soot; others were\nrough; some looked as if they had\ncracks in them; others seemed maimed;\nsome neither black nor white; some\nlooked sharp, and agreed not with the\nother stones, and others were full\nof spots.\n\n53  These were the several kinds\nof those stones which were not\nfound proper in the building; all\nwhich the Lord commanded to be\ntaken out of the tower, and laid\nnear it, and other stones to be\nbrought and put in their places.\n\n54  And they that built, asked\nhim from which of the mountains\nhe would have stones brought to\nput in the place of those that were\nlaid aside. But he forbad them\nto bring any from the mountains,\nand commanded that they should\ntake them out of a certain field\nthat was near.\n\n55  So they digged in the field,\nand found many bright square\nstones, and some also that were\nround. Howbeit, all that were\nfound in that field were taken\naway, and carried through the\ngate by those virgins; and those\nof them that were square were\nfitted and put into the places of\nthose that were pulled out.\n\n56  But the round ones were not\nput into the building, because they\nwere hard, and it would have\nrequired too much time to cut them\nbut they were placed about the\ntower, as if they should hereafter\nbe cut square, and put into the\nbuilding; for they were very\nwhite.\n\n57  When he who was chief in\ndignity, and lord of the whole\ntower saw this, he called to him\nthe shepherd that was with me,\nand gave him the stones that were\nrejected and laid about the tower,\nand said unto him; cleanse these\nstones with all care, and fit them\ninto the building of the tower, that\nthey may agree with the rest; but\nthose that will not suit with the\nrest, cast away afar off from the\ntower.\n\n58 When he had thus commanded him,\nhe departed, with all those that\ncame with him to the tower but\nthose virgins still stood about\nthe tower to keep it.\n\n59  And I said unto that shepherd;\nHow can these stones, seeing they\nhave been rejected, return into\nthe building of this tower?\nHe replied; I will cut off the\ngreatest part from these stones,\nand will add them to the building,\nand they will agree with the rest.\n\n60  And I said, Sir, how will\nthey be able to fill the same place,\nwhen they shall be so much cut\naway? He answered; They that\nshall be found too little shall be\nput into the middle of the building,\nand the greater shall be placed\nwithout, and keep them in.\n\n61  When he had said thus unto\nme, he added; Let us go, and after\nthree days we will return, and\nI will put these stones, being\ncleansed, into the tower.\n\n62  For all these that are about\nthe tower must be cleansed, lest\nthe master of the house chance to\ncome upon the sudden, and find\nthose which are about the tower\nunclean; and be so exasperated\nthat these stones should never be\nput into the building of this tower,\nand I shall be looked upon to have\nbeen unmindful of my master's\ncommands.\n\n63  When therefore we came\nafter three days to the tower,\nhe said unto me; Let us examine\nall these stones, and let us see\nwhich of them may go into the\nbuilding. I answered, Sir,\nlet us see.\n\n64  And first of all we began\nto consider those which had been\nblack; for they were found just\nsuch as they were when they were\npulled out of the tower: wherefore\nhe commanded them to be removed\nfrom the tower and put by themselves.\n\n65  Then he examined those\nwhich had been rough; and commanded\nmany of those to be cut round, and\nto be fitted by the virgins into\nthe building of the tower; so they\ntook them, and fitted them into\nthe middle of the building and\nhe commanded the rest to be laid\nby with the black ones, for they\nalso were become black.\n\n66 Next he considered those\nwhich were full of cracks, and\nmany of those also he ordered to\nbe pared away, and so to be added\nto the rest of the building, by the\ncame virgins.\n\n67  These were placed without\nbecause they were found entire;\nbut the residue through the\nmultitude of their cracks could\nnot be reformed, and therefore\nwere cast away from the building\nof the tower.\n\n68  Then he considered those\nthat had been maimed; many of\nthese had cracks, and were become\nblack; others had large clefts;\nthese he commanded to be placed\nwith those that were reected;\n\n69  But the rest being cleansed\nand reformed, he commanded to\nbe put into the building. These\ntherefore those virgins took up,\nand fitted into the middle of the\nbuilding, because they were but\nweak.\n\n70 After these he examined those\nwhich were found half white and\nhalf black, and many of those\nwhich were now black; these also\nhe ordered to be laid among\nthose that were cast away.\n\n\n71 The rest were found altogether\nwhite; those were taken up by the\nvirgins, and fitted into the same\ntower: and they were put in the\noutside, because they were found\nentire; that so they might keep\nin those that were placed in the\nmiddle, for nothing was cut off\nfrom them.\n\n72  Next he looked upon those\nwhich had been hard and sharp;\nbut few of these were made use of,\nbecause they could not be cut, for\nthey were found very hard: but\nthe rest were formed, and fitted by\nthe virgins into the middle of the\nbuilding, because they were more\nweak.\n\n73  Then he considered those\nwhich had spots; of these a few\nwere found black, and they were\ncarried to their fellows. The rest\nwere white and entire; and they\nwere fitted by the virgins into the\nbuilding, and placed in the outside,\nby reason of their strength.\n\n74  After this he came to\nconsider those stones which were\nwhite and round: and he said unto\nme, What shall we do with these\nstones? I answered, Sir, I cannot\ntell.\n\n75  He replied, Canst thou\nthink of nothing then for these?\nI answered, Sir, I understand not\nthis art; neither am I a stone-cutter,\nnor can I tell anything.\n\n76  And he said, seest thou not\nthat they are very round? Now\nto make them square, I must cut\noff a great deal from them; howbeit,\nit is necessary that some of these\nshould go into the building of the\ntower.\n\n77  I answered; If it be necessary,\nwhy do you perplex yourself, and\nnot rather choose, if you have\nany choice among them, and fit\nthem into the building.\n\n78  Upon this he chose out the\nlargest and brightest, and squared\nthem; which, when he had done\nthe virgins took them up, and\nfitted them into the building.\n\n79  And the rest that remained\nwere carried back into the same\nfield from which they were taken;\nhowbeit, they were not cast away;\nbecause, said he, there is yet a\nlittle wanting to this tower, which\nis to be built; and perhaps the\nLord will have these stones fitted\ninto this building, because they\nare exceeding white.\n\n80  Then there were called twelve\nvery stately women, clothed with\na black garment, girded, and their\nshoulders free, and their hair\nloose. These seemed to me to be\ncountry women.\n\n81  And the shepherd commanded\nthem to take up those stones\nwhich were cast out of the building,\nand carry them back to the mountains\nout of which they were taken.\n\n82  And they took them all up\njoyfully, and carried them back to\ntheir places from whence they had\nbeen taken.\n\n83  When not one stone remained\nabout the tower, he said unto\nme, Let us go about this tower,\nand see whether anything be\nwanting to it.\n\n84  We began therefore to go\nround about it; and when he saw\nthat it was handsomely built, he\nbegan to be very glad; for it was\nso beautifully framed, that any one\nthat had seen it must have been in\nlove with the building.\n\n85  For it seemed to be all but\none stone, nor did a joint any\nwhere appear; but it looked as if\nit had all been cut out of one rock.\n\n86  And when I diligently\nconsidered what a tower it was,\nI was extremely pleased: and he\nsaid unto me, Bring hither some\nlime and little shells, that I may\nfill up the spaces of those stones\nthat were taken out of the building,\nand put in again; for all things\nabout the tower must be made even.\n\n87  And I did as he commanded\nme, and brought them unto him\nand he said unto me, Be ready to\nhelp me, and this work will quickly\nbe finished.\n\n88  He therefore filled up\nthe spaces of those stones, and\ncommanded the place about the tower\nto be cleansed.\n\n89  Then those virgins took besoms,\nand cleansed all the place around,\nand took away all the rubbish,\nand threw water on; which being\ndone, the palace became delightful,\nand the tower beauteous.\n\n90  Then he said unto me, All\nis now clean if the Lord should\ncome to finish the tower, he will\nfind nothing whereby to complain\nof us.\n\n91  When he had said this he\nwould have departed. But I laid\nhold on his bag, and began to\nentreat him for the Lord's sake, that\nhe would explain to me all things\nthat he had shown me.\n\n92  He said unto me, I have at\npresent a little business; but I\nwill suddenly explain all things\nunto thee. Tarry here for me till\nI come.\n\n93  I said unto him, Sir, what\nshall I do here alone? He answered,\nThou art not alone, seeing all\nthese virgins are with thee.\n\n94  I said, Sir, deliver me then\nunto them. Then he called them\nand said unto them, I commend\nthis man unto you until I shall\ncome;\n\n95  So I remained with those\nvirgins: now they were cheerful\nand courteous unto me; especially\nthe four, which seemed to be\nthe chieftest among them.\n\n96  Then those virgins said\nunto me, that shepherd will not\nreturn hither to-day. I said unto\nthem, What then shall I do? They\nanswered, Tarry for him till the\nevening, if perhaps he may come\nand speak with thee; but if not,\nyet thou shalt continue with us\ntill he does come.\n\n97  I said unto them, I will\ntarry for him till evening; but if\nhe comes not by that time, I will\ngo home, and return hither again\nthe next morning.\n\n98  They answered me, As thou\nart delivered unto us, thou mayest\nnot depart from us. I said, Where\nshall I tarry?\n\n99  They replied, Thou shalt\nsleep with us as a brother, not\nas a husband; for thou art our\nbrother, and we are ready from\nhenceforth to dwell with thee;\nfor thou art very dear to as.\n\n100  Howbeit I was ashamed to\ncontinue with them. But she that\nseemed to be the chieftest amongst\nthem, embraced me, and began\nto kiss me. And the rest when\nthey saw that I was kissed by her,\nbegan also to kiss me as a brother;\nand led me about the tower, and\nplayed with me.\n\n101  Some of them also sung\npsalms, others made up the chorus\nwith them. But I walked about\nthe tower with them, rejoicing\nsilently, and seeming to myself\nto be grown young again.\n\n102  When the evening came on,\nI would forthwith have gone\nhome, but they withheld me,\nand suffered me not to depart.\nWherefore I continued with them\nthat night near the same tower.\n\n103  So they spread their linen\ngarments upon the ground; and\nplaced me in the middle, nor did\nthey anything else, only they\nprayed.\n\n104  I also prayed with them\nwithout ceasing, nor less than\nthey. Who, when they saw me pray\nin that manner, rejoiced greatly:\nand I continued there with their\ntill the next day.\n\n105  And when we had worshipped God,\nthen the shepherd came and said unto\nthem: You have done no injury to\nthis man? They answered, Ask him.\nI said unto him, Sir, I have received\na great deal of satisfaction in that\nI have remained with them.\n\n106  And he said unto me, How didst\nthou sup? I answered, Sir, I feasted\nthe whole night upon the words of\nthe Lord. They received thee well\nthen, said he? I said, Sir, very well.\n\n107  He answered, Wilt thou\nnow learn what thou didst desire?\nI replied, Sir, I will: and first I\npray thee that thou shouldest show\nme all things in the order that I\nasked them.\n\n108  He answered, I will do all\nas thou wouldst have me, nor\nwill I hide any thing from thee.\n\n109  First of all, Sir, said I,\ntell me, what this rock and this\ngate denote? Hearken, said he;\nthis rock, and this gate, are the\nSon of God. I replied, Sir, how\ncan that be; seeing the rock is\nold, but the gate new?\n\n110  Hear, said he, O foolish\nman! and understand. The Son\nof God is indeed more ancient\nthan any creature; insomuch\nthat he was in council with his\nFather at the creation oft all\nthings.\n\n111  But the gate is therefore\nnew, because he appeared in the\nlast days in the fullness of time;\nthat they who shall attain unto\nsalvation, may by it enter into the\nkingdom of God.\n\n112  You have seen, said he,\nthose stones which were carried\nthrough the gate, how they were\nplaced in the building of the\ntower; but that those which were\nnot carried through the gate,\nwere sent away into their own\nplaces?\n113 I answered, sir, I saw it.\nThus, said he, no man shall enter\ninto the kingdom of God, but he\nwho shall take upon him the name\nof the Son of God.\n\n114  For if you would enter\ninto any city, and that city should\nhe encompassed with a wall, and\nhad only one gate, could you\nenter into that city except by that\ngate?\n\n115 I answered, Sir, how could\nI do otherwise? As therefore, said\nhe, there would be no other way\nof entering into that city but by\nits gate, so neither can any one\nenter into the kingdom of God,\nbut only by the name of his Son,\nwho is most dear unto him.\n\n116 And he said unto me,\nDidst thou see the multitude of\nthose that built that tower? Sir,\nsaid I, I saw it. He answered,\nAll those are the angels, venerable\nin their dignity,\n\n117  With those is the Lord\nencompassed as with a wall: but\nthe gate is the Son of God, who is\nthe only way of coming unto God.\nFor no man shall go to God, but\nby his Son.\n\n118  Thou sawest also, said he,\nthe six men, and in the middle of\nthem that venerable great man,\nwho walked about the tower, and\nrejected the stones out of the tower?\n\n119  Sir, said I, I saw them.\nHe answered, that tall man was\nthe Son of God; and those six\nwere his angels of most eminent\ndignity, which stand about him\non the right hand and on the left.\n\n120  Of these excellent angels\nnone comes in unto God without\nhim. He added, Whosoever there.\nfore shall not take upon him his\nname, he shall nor enter into the\nkingdom of God.\n\n121  Then I said, What is this\ntower? This, said he, is the church.\nAnd what, Sir, are these virgins?\nHe said unto me, These are the\nholy spirits, for no man can enter\ninto the kingdom of God, except\nthese clothe him with their garment,\n\n122  For it will avail thee nothing\nto take up the name of the Son of\nGod, unless thou shalt also\nreceive their garment from them.\nFor these virgins are the powers\nof the Son of God. So shall a\nman in vain bear his name, unless\nhe shall be also endued with his\npowers.\n\n123  And he said unto me, sawest\nthou those stones that were cast\naway? They bore indeed the name,\nbut put not on their garment.\nI said, Sir, what is their\ngarment? Their very names,\nsaid he, are their garment.\n\n124  Therefore whosoever beareth\nthe name of the Son of God,\nought to bear their names also;\nfor the Son of God also himself\nbeareth their names.\n\n125  As for those stones,\ncontinued he, which being delivered\nby their hands, thou sawest remain\nin the building, they were clothed\nwith their power; for which cause\nthou seest the whole tower of the\nsame colour with the rock, and made\nas it were of one stone.\n\n126 So also those who have\nbelieved in God by his Son, have\nput on his spirit. Behold there\nshall be one spirit, and one body,\nand one colour of their garments;\nand all they shall attain this, who\nshall bear the names of these virgins.\n\n127 And I said, Sir, why then\nwere those stones cast away which\nwere rejected, seeing they also\nwere carried through the gate,\nand delivered by the hands of\nthese virgins into the building\nof this tower?\n\n128 Seeing, said he thou takest\ncare to inquire diligently into all\nthings, hear also concerning those\nstones which were rejected. All\nthese received the name of the\nSon of God, and with that the\npower of these virgins.\n\n129 Having therefore received\nthese spirits, they were perfected,\nand brought into the number of\nthe servants of God; and they\nbegan to be one body, and to have\none garment, for they were endued\nwith the same righteousness,\nwhich they alike exercised.\n\n130  But after that they beheld\nthose women which thou sawest\nclothed with a black garment,\nwith their shoulders at liberty and\ntheir hair loose; they fixed their\ndesires upon them, being tempted\nwith their beauty; and were\nclothed with their power,\nand cast off the clothing\nof the virgins:\n\n131  Therefore were they cast\noff from the house of God, and\ndelivered to those women. But\nthey that were not corrupted with\ntheir beauty, remained in the\nhouse of God. This, said he, is\nthe signification of those stones\nwhich were rejected.\n\n132  And I said, sir, what if\nany of these men shall repent, and\ncast away their desire of those\nwomen, and be converted, and\nreturn to these virgins, and put\non again their virtue; shall they\nnot enter into the house of God?\n\n133 They shall enter, said he,\nif they shall lay aside all the\nworks of those women, and shall\nresume the power of these virgins,\nand shall walk in their works.\n\n134 And for this cause there is\na stop in the building, that if they\nshall repent, they may be added\nto the building of this tower; but\nif they shall not repent, that others\nmay be built in their places, and\nso they may be utterly cast away.\n\n135 For all these things I gave\nthanks unto the Lord, that being\nmoved with mercy towards all\nthose upon whom his name is\ncarried, he sent to us the angel of\nrepentance to preside over us who\nhave sinned against him; and that\nhe has refreshed our spirits which\nwere almost gone, and who had\nno hope of salvation, but are now\nrefreshed to the renewal of life.\n\n136  Then I said, Show me now\nsir, why this tower is not built\nupon the ground, but upon a rock,\nand upon the gate? He replied,\nThou art foolish, and without\nunderstanding, therefore thou\nasketh this.\n\n137 And I said, sir, I must\nneeds ask all things of you\nbecause I understand nothing at all.\nFor all your answers are great and\nexcellent; and which a man can\nhardly understand.\n\n138  Hear, said he: The name\nof the Son of God is great and\nwithout bounds, and the whole\nworld is supported by it. If\ntherefore, said I, every creature\nof God be sustained by his Son,\nwhy should he not support those\nalso who have been invited by him,\nand who carry his name, and walk\nin his commandments?\n\n139  Seest thou not, said he, that\nhe doth support them, who with\nall their heart, bear his name?\nHe therefore is their foundation,\nand gladly supports those who do\nnot deny his name, but willingly\nbear it.\n\n140 And I said: Sir, tell me\nthe names of these virgins; and of\nthose women that were clothed\nwith the black garment.\n\n141  Hear, said he, the names of\nthose virgins which are the more\npowerful, and stand at the corners\nof the gate. These are their\nnames:\n\n142 The first is called Faith;\nthe second Continence; the third\nPower; the fourth Patience; the\nrest which stand beneath these\nare, Simplicity, Innocence,\nChastity, Cheerfulness, Truth,\nUnderstanding, Concord, Charity.\n\n143  Whosoever therefore bear\nthese names, and the name of the\nSon of God, shall enter into the\nkingdom of God.\n\n144  Hear now, said he, the\nnames of those women, which\nwere clothed with the black garment.\nOf these, four are the principal:\nthe first is Perfidiousness;\nthe second, Incontinence; the\nthird, Infidelity; the fourth,\nPleasure.\n\n145 And the rest which follow\nare called thus, Sadness, Malice,\nLust, Anger, Lying, Foolishness,\nPride, and Hatred. The servant\nof God, which carries these spirits,\nshall see indeed the kingdom of\nGod, but he shall not enter into it.\n\n146  But, sir, what are those\nstones which were taken out of the\ndeep and fitted into the building?\nThe ten, said he, which were\nplaced at the foundation, are the\nfirst age; the following five-and-\ntwenty, are the second, of righteous\nmen.\n\n147  The next thirty-five, are the\nprophets and ministers of the Lord.\nAnd the forty, are the Apostles and\ndoctors of the preaching of the\nSon of God.\n\n148  And I said, sir, why did the\nvirgins put even those stones into\nthe building after they were carried\nthrough the gate? And he said,\nBecause these first carried those\nspirits, and they departed not one\nfrom the other, neither the men\nfrom the spirits, nor the spirits\nfrom the men:\n\n149  But the spirits were joined\nto those men even to the day of\ntheir death; who if they had not\nhad these spirits with them, they\ncould not have been useful to the\nbuilding of this tower.\n\n150  And I said, sir, show me\nthis farther.  He answered, What\ndost then ask? Why did these\nstones come out of the deep, and\nwere placed into the building of\nthis tower, seeing that they long\nago carried those holy spirits?\n\n151  It was necessary, said he,\nfor them to ascend by water, that\nthey might be at rest. For they\ncould not otherwise enter into the\nkingdom of God, but by laying\naside the mortality of their former\nlife.\n\n152  They therefore being dead,\nwere nevertheless sealed with the\nseal of the Son of God, and so\nentered into the kingdom of God.\n\n153  For before a man receives\nthe name of the Son of God, he is\nordained unto death; but when he\nreceives that seal, he is freed from\ndeath, and assigned unto life.\n\n154  Now that seal is the water\nof baptism, into which men go\ndown under the obligation unto\ndeath, but come up appointed unto\nlife.\n\n155 Wherefore to those also was\nthis seal preached, and they made\nuse of it, that they might enter\ninto the kingdom of God.\n\n156  And I said, Why then, sir,\ndid these forty stones also ascend\nwith them out of the deep, having\nalready received that seal?\n\n157  He answered, Because\nthese Apostles and teachers, who\npreached the name of the Son of\nGod, dying after they had received\nhis faith and power, preached to\nthem who were dead before: and\nthey gave this seal to them.\n\n158  They went down therefore\ninto the water with them, and again\ncame up. But these went down\nwhilst they were alive, and came\nup again alive: whereas those who\nwere before dead, went down dead,\nbut came up alive;\n\n159  Through these therefore\nthey received life, and knew the\nSon of God: for which cause they\ncame up with them, and were fit\nto come into the building of the\ntower; and were not cut, but put\nin entire; because they died in\nrighteousness, and in great purity;\nonly this seal was wanting to\nthem.\n\n160  Thus you have the explication\nof these things.\n\n161  I answered: Sir, tell me\nnow what concerns those mountains;\nwhy are they so different, some\nof one form, and some of another?\n\n162 Hear, said he; These twelve\nmountains which thou seest, are\ntwelve nations, which make up the\nwhole world. Wherefore the Son\nof God is preached to them, by\nthose whom he sent unto them.\n\n163  But why, said I, are they\ndifferent, and every one of a figure?\nHe replied, Hearken. Those twelve\nnations which possess the whole\nworld, are twelve people.\n\n164  And as thou hast beheld\nthese mountains different, so are\nthey. I will therefore open to\nthee the meaning and actions of\nevery mountain.\n\n165  But first, sir, said I, show\nme this; Seeing these mountains\nare so different, how have they\nagreed in the building of this\ntower; and been brought to one\ncolour; and are no less bright\nthan those that came out of the\ndeep?\n\n166  Because, replied he, all the\nnations which are under heaven,\nhave heard and believed in the\nsame one name of the Son of God\nby whom they are called.\n\n167  Wherefore having received\nhis seal, they have all been made\npartakers of the same understanding\nand knowledge; and their faith\nand charity have been the same;\nand they have carried the spirits\nof these virgins together with his\nname.\n\n168  And therefore the building\nof this tower appeared to be of the\nsame colour, and did shine like\nthe brightness of the sun.\n\n169  But after that they had thus\nagreed in one mind, there began to\nbe one body of them all; howbeit\nsome of them polluted themselves,\nand were cast off from those of the\nrighteous, and again returned to\ntheir former state, and became\neven worse than they were before.\n\n170  How, air, said I, were\nthey worse who knew the Lord?\nHe answered: If he who knows\nnot the Lord liveth wickedly,\nthe punishment of his wickedness\nattends him;\n\n171 But he who has known the\nLord, ought to abstain altogether\nfrom all wickedness, and more and\nmore to be the servant of\nrighteousness.\n\n172 And does not he then seem\nto thee to sin more who ought to\nfollow goodness, if he shall prefer\nthe part of sin; than he who\noffends without knowing the\npower of God?\n\n173 Wherefore these are indeed\nordained unto death; but they who\nhave known the Lord, and have\nseen his wonderful works, if they\nshall live wickedly, they shall be\ndoubly punished, and shall die for\never.\n\n174  As therefore thou hast seen\nthat after the stones were cast out\nof the tower, which had been rejected,\nthey were delivered to wicked and\ncruel spirits; and thou beheldest\nthe tower so cleansed, as if it had\nall been made of one stone:\n\n175  So the church of God, when\nit shall be purified: (the wicked\nand counterfeits, the mischievous\nand doubtful, and all that have\nbehaved themselves wickedly in it,\nand committed divers kinds of sin,\nbeing cast out) shall become one\nbody, and there shall be one\nunderstanding, one opinion,\none faith, and the same charity.\n\n176 And then shall the Son of\nGod rejoice among them, and shall\nreceive his people with a pure will.\n\n177 And I said; Sir, all these\nthings are great and honourable;\nbut now show unto me the effect\nand force of every mountain: that\nevery soul which trusteth in the\nLord, when it shall hear these\nthings may honour his great, and\nwonderful, and holy name.\n\n178  Hear, said he, the variety\nof these mountains, that is, of the\ntwelve nations.\n\n179  They who have believed\nof the first mountain, which is\nblack, are those who have revolted\nfrom the faith, and spoken wicked\nthings against the Lord; and\nbetrayed the servants of God.\n\n180  These are condemned to\ndeath; there is no repentance for\nthem: and therefore they are\nblack, because their kind is\nwicked.\n\n181  Of the second mountain\nwhich was smooth, are the\nhypocrites, who have believed,\nand the teachers of naughtiness:\nand these are next to the foregoing,\nwhich have not in them the fruit of\nrighteousness.\n\n182  For as their mountain is\nbarren and without fruit so also\nsuch kind of men have indeed the\nname of Christians, but are empty\nof faith; nor is there any fruit of\nthe truth in them.\n\n183  Nevertheless there is room\nleft to them of repentance, if they\nshall speedily pursue it; but if\nthey shall delay, they also shall\nbe partakers of death with the\nforegoing kind.\n\n184  I said, air, why is there\nroom left to those for repentance,\nand not to the foregoing kind,\nseeing their sins are well nigh the\nsame?\n\n185  There is therefore, said he,\nto these a return unto life by\nrepentance, because they have not\nblasphemed against their Lord,\nnor betrayed the servants of God:\nbut by their desire of gain have\ndeceived men, leading them according\nto the lusts of sinners; wherefore\nthey shall suffer for this thing.\n\n186  Howbeit there is still left\nthem room for repentance, because\nthey have not spoken any thing\nwickedly against the Lord.\n\n187  They who are of the\nthird mountain which had thorns\nand brambles, are those who\nbelieved, but were some of them\nrich; others taken up with many\naffairs: the brambles are their\nriches; the thorns, those affairs in\nwhich they were engaged.\n\n188  Now they who are entangled\nin much business, and in diversity\nof affairs, join not themselves to\nthe servants of God, but wander,\nbeing called away by those affairs\nwith which they are choked.\n\n189  And so they which are rich,\nwith difficulty yield themselves to\nthe conversation of the servants\nof God; fearing lest any thing\nshould be asked of them. These\ntherefore shall hardly enter the\nkingdom of God.\n\n190  For as men walk with difficulty\nbare-foot over thorns, even so\nthese kind of men shall scarcely\nenter into the kingdom of God.\n\n191  Nevertheless there is afforded\nto all these a return unto repentance,\nif they shall quickly return to it;\nbecause in their for-mer days they\nhaving neglected to work, in the time\nthat is to come they may do some good.\n\n192  If therefore having\nrepented they shall do the works\nof righteousness, they shall live;\nbut if they shall continue in their\nevil courses, they shall be delivered\nto those women who will take away\ntheir lives.\n\n193  As for the fourth mountain,\nwhich had many herbs, the upper\npart of which is green, but\nthe roots dry, and some of which\nbeing touched with the heat of the\nsun, are withered;\n\n194  It denotes the doubtful, who\nhave believed, and some others\nwho carry the Lord on their tongues,\nbut have him not in their hearts:\ntherefore their grass is dry,\nand without root; because they\nlive only in words, but their\nworks are dead.\n\n195  These therefore are neither\ndead nor living, and withal are\ndoubtful. For the doubtful are\nneither green nor dry; that is\nneither dead nor alive.\n\n196  For as the herbs dry away\nat the sight of the sun, so the\ndoubtful, as soon as they hear of\npersecution, and fear inconveniencies,\nreturn to their idols, and again\nserve them, and are ashamed\nto bear the name of their Lord.\n\n197  This kind of men then is\nneither dead nor alive; nevertheless\nthese also may live, if they shall\npresently repent; but if not,\nthey shall be delivered to those\nwomen, who shall take away their\nlives.\n\n198  As concerning the fifth\nmountain that is craggy, and yet\nhas green grass; they are of this\nkind who have believed, and are\nfaithful indeed, but believe with\ndifficulty, and are bold and self-\nconceited; and would be thought\nto know all things, but really\nknow nothing.\n\n199  Wherefore, by reason of\nthis confidence, knowledge is\ndeparted from them; and a rash\npresumption is entered into them.\n\n200  But they carry themselves\nhigh, and as prudent men; and\nthough they are fools, yet would\nseem to be teachers.\n\n201  Now by reason of this folly\nmany of them whilst they magnify\nthemselves, are become vain and\nempty. For boldness and vain\nconfidence is a very evil spirit.\n\n202  Wherefore many of these\nare cast away; but others\nacknowledging their error, have\nrepented, and submitted themselves\nto those who are knowing.\n\n203  And to all the rest of this\nkind, there is repentance allowed;\nforasmuch as they were not so\nmuch wicked as foolish, and void\nof understanding.\n\n204  If these therefore shall\nrepent, they shall live unto God;\nbut if not, they shall dwell with\nthose women, who shall exercise\ntheir wickedness upon them.\n\n205  For what concerns the\nsixth mountain having greater and\nlesser clefts, they are such as have\nbelieved; but those in which were\nlesser clefts are they who have had\ncontroversies among themselves;\nand by reason of their quarrels\nlanguish in the faith:\n\n206  Nevertheless many of these\nhave repented, and so will the rest\nwhen they shall hear my commands;\nfor their controversies are but\nsmall, and they will easily\nreturn unto repentance.\n\n207  But those who have the\ngreater clefts, will be as stiff\nstones, mindful of grudges and\noffences, and full of anger among\nthemselves. These therefore are\ncast from the tower, and refused\nto be put into its building; for\nthis kind of men shall hardly\nlive.\n\n208  Our God and Lord, who\nruleth over all things, and has\npower over all his creatures, will\nnot remember our offences, but is\neasily appeased by those who\nconfess their sins: but man being\nlanguid, mortal, infirm, and full\nof sins, perseveres in his anger\nagainst man; as if it were in his\npower to save or destroy him.\n\n209  But I, as the angel who am\nset over your repentance, admonish\nyou, that whosoever among you has\nany such purpose he should lay it\naside, and return unto repentance;\nand the Lord will heal your former\nsins, if you shall purge yourself\nfrom this evil spirit; but if you\nshall not do it, ye shall be\ndelivered to him unto death.\n\n210  As for the seventh mountain\nin which the grass was green\nand flourishing, and the whole\nmountain faithful; and all kind of\ncattle fed upon the grass of it, and\nthe more the grass was eaten, so\nmuch the more it flourished;\n\n211  They are such as believed,\nand were always good and upright;\nand without any differences among\nthemselves, but still rejoiced\nin the servants of God, having\nput on the spirit of these virgins;\nand been always forward to show\nmercy to all men, readily giving\nto all men of their labours\nwithout upbraiding, and without\ndeliberation.\n\n212  Wherefore the Lord seeing\ntheir simplicity and innocence,\nhas increased them in the works of\ntheir hands, and given them grace\nin all their works.\n\n213  But I, who am the angel\nappointed over your repentance,\nexhort you, that as many as are of\nthis kind would continue in the\nsame purpose, that your seed may\nnot be rooted out for ever.\n\n214  For the Lord hath tried\nyou, and written you into our\nnumber; and all your seed shall\ndwell with the Son of God; for ye\nare all of his spirit.\n\n215  As concerning the eighth\nmountain in which were a great\nmany springs, by which every\nkind of all the creatures of God\nwas watered; they are such as\nhave believed the Apostles which\nthe Lord sent into all the world to\npreach;\n\n216  And some of them being\nteachers have preached and taught\npurely and sincerely, and have\nnot in the least yielded to any evil,\ndesires, but have constantly walked\nin righteousness and truth.\n\n217  These therefore have their\nconversations among the angels.\n\n218  Again; as for what concerns\nthe ninth mountain which is\na desert, and full of serpents; they\nare such as have believed, but had\nmany stains:\n\n219  These are such ministers as\ndischarge their ministry amiss;\nravishing away the goods of the\nwidows and fatherless; and serve\nthemselves, not others, out of\nthose things which they have\nreceived.\n\n220 These, if they continue in\nthis covetousness, have delivered\nthemselves unto death, nor shall\nthere be any hope of life for them.\nBut if they shall be converted,\nand shall discharge their ministry\nsincerely, they may live.\n\n221  As for those which were\nfound rough, they are such as\nhave denied the name of the Lord,\nand not returned again to the\nLord, but have become savage\nand wild; not applying themelves\nto the servants of God; but being\nseparated from them, have for a\nlittle carelessness lost their lives.\n\n222  For as a vine that is forsaken\nin a hedge, and never dressed,\nperishes and is choked by the\nweeds, and in time becomes wild,\nand ceases to be useful to its lord;\nso this kind of men despairing of\nthemselves, and being soured,\nhave begun to be unprofitable to\ntheir Lord.\n\n223  Howbeit, to these there is,\nafter all, repentance allowed, if\nthey shall not be found from their\nhearts to have denied Christ; but\nif any of these shall be found to\nhave denied him from his heart,\nI cannot tell whether such a one\ncan attain unto life.\n\n224  I say therefore that if any\none hath denied, he should in\nthese days return unto repentance;\nfor it cannot be that anyone\nwho now denies the Lord, can\nafterwards attain unto salvation\nnevertheless repentance is promised\nunto them who have formerly denied.\n\n225  But he who will repent\nmust hasten on his repentance,\nbefore the building of this tower\nis finished; otherwise, he shall be\ndelivered by those women unto\ndeath.\n\n226  But they that are maimed,\nare the deceitful; and those who\nmix with one another, are the\nserpents that you saw mingled in\nthat mountain.\n\n227  For as the poison of serpents\nis deadly unto men, so the words\nof such persons infect and\ndestroy men. They are therefore\nmaimed in their faith, by reason\nof that kind of life which they\nlead.\n\n228  Howbeit some of them,\nhaving repented, have been saved;\nand so shall others of the same\nkind be also saved, if they shall\nrepent; but if not, they shall die\nby those women who power and\nforce posses,\n\n229  For what concerns the\ntenth mountain, in which were the\ntrees covering the cattle, they are\nsuch as have believed; and some\nof them have been bishops, that is,\ngovernors of the churches.\n\n230  Others, are such stones as\nhave not feignedly, but with a\ncheerful mind entertained the\nservants of God.\n\n231  Then, such as have been set\nover inferior ministries, and have\nprotected the poor and the widows;\nand have always kept a chaste\nconversation: therefore they\nalso are protected by the Lord.\n\n232  Whosoever shall do on this\nwise, are honoured with the Lord;\nand their place is among the\nangels, if they shall continue\nto obey the Lord even unto the end.\n\n233  As to the eleventh mountain\nin which were trees loaded\nwith several sorts of fruit; they\nare such as have believed, and\nsuffered death, for the name of the\nLord; and have endured with a\nheavy mind, and have given up\ntheir lives with all their hearts.\n\n234  And I said, Why then, sir,\nhave all these fruit indeed, but yet\nsome fairer than others?\n\n235 Hearken, said he: Whosoever\nhave suffered for the name of\nthe Lord are esteemed honourable\nby the Lord; and all their offences\nare blotted out, because they have\nsuffered death for the name of the\nSon of God.\n\n236  Hear now, why their fruits\nare different, and some of them\nexcel others. They who were\nbrought before magistrates, and\nbeing asked, denied not the Lord,\nbut suffered with a ready mind;\nthese are more honourable with\nthe Lord. The fruits therefore\nthat are the most fair are these.\n\n237  But they who were fearful\nand doubtful, and have deliberated\nwith themselves whether they\nshould confess or deny Christ, and\nyet have suffered; their fruits are\nsmaller, because that this thought\ncame into their hearts.\n\n238 For it is a wicked and evil\nthought for a servant to deliberate\nwhether he should deny his master:\nTake heed therefore ye who\nhave such thoughts, that this mind\nPontinrie not in you, and ye die\nunto God.\n\n239 But ye who suffer death for\nhis name sake, ought to honour\nthe Lord, that he has esteemed\nyou worthy to bear his name; and\nthat you should be delivered from\nall your sins.\n\n240  And why therefore do you\nnot rather esteem yourselves happy?\nYe think verily that if any\none among you suffer, he performs\na great work! Yet the Lord\ngiveth you life, and ye understand\nit not.   For your offences did\noppress you; and if you had not\nsuffered for his name sake, ye would\nnow be dead unto the Lord.\n\n241  Wherefore I speak this unto\nyou who deliberate whether ye\nshould confess or deny him. Confess\nthat ye have the Lord for your\nGod, lest at any time denying him,\nye be delivered up into bonds.\n\n242  For if all nations punish\ntheir servants which deny their\nmasters; what think you that the\nLord will do unto you, who has\nthe power of all things?\n\n243  Remove therefore out of\nyour hearts these doubts, that ye\nmay live for ever unto God.\n\n244  As for the twelfth mountain,\nwhich was white, they are\nsuch as have believed like sincere\nchildren, into whose thoughts\nthere never came any malice, nor\nhave they ever known what sin\nwas, but have always continued in\ntheir integrity.\n\n245  Wherefore this kind of men\nshall without all doubt inherit the\nkingdom of God; because they\nhave never in any thing defiled\nthe commandments of God, but\nhave continued with sincerity in\nthe same condition all the days of\ntheir lives.\n\n246 Whosoever therefore, said\nhe, shall continue as children\nwithout malice; shall be more\nhonourable than all those of whom\nI have yet spoken: for all such\nchildren are honoured by the\nLord, and esteemed the first of\nall.\n\n247 Happy therefore are ye\nwho shall remove all malice from\nyou, and put on innocence; be.\ncause ye shall first see the Lord.\n248 And after he had thus\nended his explication of all the\nmountains, I said unto him, Sir,\nshow me now also what concerns\nthe stones that were brought out\nof the plain, and put into the\ntower in the room of those that\nwere rejected.\n\n249  As also concerning those\nround stones which were added\ninto the building of the tower;\nand also of those who still\ncontinued round.\n\n250  Hear now, says he,\nconcerning those stones which were\nbrought out of the plain into the\nbuilding of the tower, and placed\nin the room of those that were\nrejected: they are the roots of\nthat white mountain.\n\n251  Wherefore because those\nwho have believed of that mountain,\nwere very innocent; the lord of\nthis tower commanded that they\nwhich were of the roots of this\nmountain should be placed into\nthe building.\n\n252  For he knew that if they\nwere put into, this building they\nwould continue bright; nor would\nany of them any more be made\nblack.\n\n253  But if he had added after\nthis manner, from the rest of the\nmountains, he would almost have\nneeded again to visit the tower,\nand to cleanse it.\n\n254  Now all these white stones\nare the young men who have believed,\nor shall believe; for they are all\nof the same kind.   Happy is this\nkind, because it is innocent.\n\n255  Hear now also concerning\nthose round and bright stones; all\nthese are of this white mountain.\nBut they are therefore found\nround, because their riches have\na little darkened them from the\ntruth, and dazzled their eyes.\n\n256  Howbeit they have never\ndeparted from the Lord, nor has\nany wicked word proceeded out\nof their mouths; but all\nrighteousness, and virtue,\nand truth.\n\n257 When therefore the Lord\nsaw their minds, and that they\nmight adorn the truth; he\ncommanded that they should continue\ngood, and that their riches should\nbe pared away:\n\n258  For he would not have\nthem taken wholly away, to the\nend they might do some good\nwith that which was left, and live\nunto God; because they also are\nof a good kind.\n\n259  Therefore was there little\ncut off from them, and so they\nwere put into the building of this\ntower.\n\n260  As for the rest which\ncontinued still round, and were\nnot found fit for the building of\nthis tower, because they have not\nyet received the seal; they were\ncarried back to their place, be.\ncause they were found very\nround.\n\n261  But this present world must\nbe cut away from them, and the\nvanities of their riches; and then\nthey will be fit for the kingdom of\nGod. For they must enter into\nthe kingdom of God, because God\nhas blessed this innocent kind.\n\n262 Of this kind therefore none\nshall fall away: for though any of\nthem being tempted by the devil\nshould offend, he shall soon return\nto his Lord God.\n\n263  I the angel of repentance\nesteem you happy, whosoever are\ninnocent as little children, because\nyour portion is good and honourable\nwith the Lord.\n\n264  And I say unto all you\nwho have received this seal; keep\nsimplicity, and remember not the\noffences which are  committed\nagainst you, nor continue in\nmalice, or in bitterness, through\nthe memory of offences.\n\n265  But become one spirit,\nand provide remedies for these\nevil rents, and remove them from\nyou; that the lord of the sheep\nmay rejoice at it; for he will\nrejoice, if he shall find all whole.\n\n266  But if any of these sheep\nshall be found scattered away, Woe\nshall be to the shepherds; and\nif the shepherds themselves shall\nbe scattered; what will they answer\nto the lord of the sheep-fold?\nWill they say that they were\ntroubled by the sheep? But\nthey shall not be believed.\n\n267  For it is an incredible thing\nthat the shepherd should suffer by\nhis flock; and he shall be the more\npunished for his life.\n\n268 Now I am the shepherd;\nand especially must give an\naccount of you.\n\n269  Wherefore take care of\nyourselves whilst the tower is,\nyet building. The Lord dwells\nin those that love peace, for peace\nis beloved; but he is far off from\nthe contentious, and those who are\nfull of malice.\n\n270 Wherefore restore unto him\nthe Spirit entire, as ye received it.\nFor if thou shalt give unto a\nfuller a garment new and whole,\nthou wilt expect to receive it whole\nagain; if therefore the fuller shall\nrestore it unto thee torn, wouldst\nthou receive it?\n\n271 Wouldst thou not presently\nbe angry, and reproach him,\nsaying: I gave my garment to thee\nwhole, why halt thou rent it, and\nmade it useless to me? Now it is\nof no use to me, by reason of the\nrent which thou hast made in it.\nWouldst thou not say all this to a\nfuller, for the rent which he made\nin thy garment?\n\n272 If therefore thou wouldst\nbe concerned for thy garment,\nand complain that thou hadst not\nreceived it whole; what thinkest\nthou that the Lord will do, who\ngave his Spirit to thee entire, and\nthou hast rendered him altogether\nunprofitable, so that he can be of\nno use unto his Lord? For being\ncorrupted by thee, he is no longer\nprofitable to him.\n\n273 Will not therefore the Lord\ndo the same concerning his Spirit,\nby reason of thy deed? Undoubtedly,\nsaid I, he will do the same\nto all those whom he shall find to\ncontinue in the remembrance of\ninjuries.\n\n274 Tread not then under foot\nhe said, his mercy; but rather\nhonour him, because he is so\npatient with respect to your offences,\nand not like one of you; but repent,\nfor it will be profitable for you.\n\n275  All these things which\nare above written, I the shepherd\nand angel of repentance, have\nshown and spoken to the servants\nof God.\n\n276 If therefore ye shall believe\nand hearken to these words, and\nshall walk in them and correct\nyour ways, ye shall live. But if\nye shall, continue in malice, and\nin the remembrance of injuries,\nno such sinners shall live unto\nGod.\n\n277 All these things which were\nto be spoken by me, I have thus\ndelivered unto you. Then the\nshepherd said unto me, Hast thou\nasked all things of me?\nI answered, sir, I have.\n\n278  Why then, said he, hast\nthou not asked concerning the\nspaces of these stones that were\nput in the building, that I may\nexplain that also unto thee?\nI answered, sir, I forgot it.\nHear, then, said he, concerning\nthese also.\n\n279  They are those who have\nnow heard these commands, and\nhave repented with all their\nhearts;\n\n280 And when the Lord saw\nthat their repentance was good\nand pure, and that they could\ncontinue in it, he commanded\ntheir former sins to be blotted\nout. For these spaces were their\nsins, and they are therefore made\neven that they might not appear.\n\n\n\nSIMILITUDE X.\n\nOf Repentance and alms-deeds.\n\nAFTER I had written this\nbook, the angel which had\ndelivered me to that shepherd,\ncame into the house where I was\nand sat upon the bed, and that\nshepherd stood at his right hand.\n\n2  Then he called me and said\nunto me; I delivered thee and\nthy house to this shepherd, that\nthou mightest be protected by\nhim. I said, Yes, Lord.\n\n3  If therefore, said he, thou\nwilt be protected from all\nvexations and from all cruelty, and\nhave success in every good word\nand work, and have all virtue and\nrighteousness; walk in those\ncommands which he has given thee,\nand thou shalt have dominion\nover all sin.\n\n4  For if thou keepest those\ncommands, all the lust and pleasure\nof this present world shall be\nsubject to thee; and success shall\nfollow thee in every good undertaking.\n\n5  Take therefore his gravity\nand modesty towards thee, and\nsay unto all, that he is in great\nhonour and renown with God, and\nis a prince of great authority, and\npowerful in his office.\n\n6  To him only is the power of\nrepentance committed throughout\nthe whole world. Does he not\nseem to thee to be of great\nauthority?\n\n7  But ye despise his goodness,\nand the modesty which he shows\ntowards you.\n\n8  I said unto him; Sir, ask\nhim since the time that he came\ninto my house whether I have\ndone any thing disorderly, or\nhave offended him in any thing?\n\n9  I know, said he, that thou\nhast done nothing disorderly,\nneither wilt thou hereafter do\nany such thing, and therefore I\nspeak these things with thee that\nthen mayest persevere; for he\nhas given me a good account\nconcerning thee.\n\n10  But thou shalt speak these\nthings to others, that they who\neither have repented, or shall\nrepent, may be like-minded with\nthee, and he may give me as\ngood an account of them also;\nand that I may do the same unto\nthe Lord.\n\n11 I answered; Sir, I declare\nto all men the wonderful works of\nGod; and I hope that all who\nlove them, and have before sinned,\nwhen they shall hear these things,\nwill repent, and recover life.\n\n12 Continue therefore, said he,\nin this ministry, and fulfil it.\nAnd whosoever shall do according\nto the commands of this shepherd,\nhe shall live; and shall have great\nhonour both here and with the\nLord.\n\n13  But they that shall not keep\nhis commands, flee from their life,\nand are adversaries to it. And\nthey that follow not his commands,\nshall deliver themselves\nunto death; and shall be every\none guilty of his own blood.\n\n14  But I say unto thee, keep\nthese commandments, and thou\nshalt find a cure for all thy sins.\n\n15  Moreover, I have sent\nthese virgins to dwell with thee;\nfor I have seen that they are very\nkind to thee. Thou shalt therefore\nhave them for thy helpers,\nthat thou mayest the better keep\nthe commands which he hath given\nthee; for these commands cannot\nbe kept without these virgins.\n\n16  And as I see how they are\nwilling to be with thee, I will\nalso command them that they shall\nnot all depart from thy house.\n\n17  Only do thou purify thy\nhouse; for they will readily dwell\nin a clean house. For they are\nclean and chaste, and industrious;\nand all of them have grace with\nthe Lord.\n\n18  If therefore thou shalt have\nthy house pure, they will abide\nwith thee. But, if it shall be\nnever so little polluted, they will\nimmediately depart from thy house;\nfor these virgins cannot endure any\nmanner of pollution.\n\n19  I said unto him; Sir, I hope\nthat I shall so please them, that\nthey shall always delight to dwell\nin my house. And as be to whom\nyou have committed me, makes\nno complaint of me; so neither\nshall they complain.\n\n20  Then he said to that shepherd:\nI see that the servant of God will\nlive and keep these commandments,\nand place these virgins in a pure\nhabitation.\n\n21 When he had said this,\nhe delivered me again to that\nshepherd, and called the virgins,\nand said unto them; Forasmuch as I\nsee that ye will readily dwell in\nthis man's house, I commend him\nand his family to you, that ye may\nnot at all depart from his house.\nAnd they willingly heard these\nwords.\n\n22  Then he said unto me,\nGo on manfully in thy ministry;\ndeclare to all men the great things\nof God, and thou shalt find grace\nin this ministry.\n\n23  And whosover shall walk\nin these commands, shall live,\nand be happy in his life. But he\nthat shall neglect them, shall not\nlive, and shall be unhappy in his\nlife.\n\n24  Say unto all that whosoever\ncan do well, cease not to exercise\nthemselves in good works, for it\nis profitable unto them. For I\nwould that all men should be\ndelivered from the inconveniences\nthey lie under.\n\n25  For he that wants, and\nsuffers inconveniences in his\ndaily life, is in great torment\nand necessity. Whosoever therefore\ndelivers such a soul from necessity,\ngets great joy unto himself.\n\n26  For he that is grieved with\nsuch inconveniencies is equally\ntormented, as if he were in chains.\nAnd many upon the account of\nsuch calamities, being not able to\nbear them, have chosen even to\ndestroy themselves.\n\n27  He therefore that knows the\ncalamity of such a man, and does\nnot free him from it, commits a\ngreat sin, and is guilty of his\nblood.\n\n28  Wherefore exercise your.\nselves in good works, as many as\nhave received ability from the\nLord; lest whilst ye delay to do\nthem, the building of the tower be\nfinished; because for your sakes\nthe building is stopped.\n\n29  Except therefore ye shall\nmake haste to do well, the tower\nshall be finished, and ye shall be\nshut out of it.\n\n30  And after he had thus spoken\nwith me, he rose up from the bed\nand departed, taking the shepherd\nand virgins with him.\n\n31  Howbeit he said unto me,\nthat he would send back the\nshepherd and virgins unto\nmy house.  Amen.\n\n\n\n\n                       REFERENCES TO THE BOOK OF\n                         HERMAS, THE SHEPHERD.\n\n     [This book, divided into three parts, called his VISIONS, COMMANDS,\n     and SIMILITUDES, is thus entitled, because it was composed by\n     Hermas, brother to Pius, bishop of Rome; and because the Angel, who\n     bears the principal part in it, is represented in the form and habit\n     of a shepherd. Irenxus quotes it under the very name of Scripture.\n     Origen thought it a most useful writing, and that it was divinely\n     inspired; Eusebius says that, though it was not esteemed canonical,\n     it was read publicly in the churches, which is corroborated by\n     Jerome; and Athanasius cites it, calls it a most useful work, and\n     observes, that though it was not strictly canonical, the Fathers\n     appointed it to be read for direction and confirmation in faith and\n     piety. Jerome, notwithstanding this, and that he applauded it in his\n     catalogue of writers, in his comments upon it afterwards, terms it\n     apocryphal and foolish.  Turtullian praised it when a Catholic, and\n     abused it when a Montanist. Although Gelasius ranks it among the\n     apocryphal books, it is found attached to some of the most ancient\n     MSS. of the New Testament; and Archbishop Wake, believing it the\n     genuine work of an apostolical Father, preserves it to the English\n     reader by the foregoing translation, in which he has rendered the\n     three parts of it not only more exact, but in greater purity than\n     they had before appeared. The archbishop procured Dr. Grabe to\n     entirely collate the old Latin version with an ancient MS. in the\n     Lambeth library; and the learned prelate himself still further\n     improved the whole from a multitude of fragments of the original\n     Greek never before used for that purpose.]","title":"The suppressed Gospels and Epistles of the original New Testament of Jesus the Christ, Volume 9, Hermas","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":38501}