First Book: Visions
First Vision
AGAINST FILTHY AND PROUD
THOUGHTS, AND THE CARELESSNESS OF HERMAS IN CHASTISING HIS SONS.
CHAPTER I
He
who had brought me up, sold me to one Rhode in Rome. Many years after this I recognised
her, and I began to love her as a sister. Sometime after, I saw her bathe in the
river Tiber; and I gave her my hand, and drew her out of the river. The sight
of her beauty made me think with myself, "I should be a happy man if I
could but get a wife as handsome and good as she is." This was the only
thought that passed through me: this and nothing more. A short time after this,
as I was walking on my road to the villages, and magnifying the creatures of
God, and thinking how magnificent, and beautiful, and powerful they are, I fell
asleep. And the Spirit carried me away, and took me through a pathless place,
through which a man could not travel, for it was situated in the midst of
rocks;
it was rugged and impassible on account of water. Having passed over this
river, I came to a plain. I then bent down on my knees, and began to pray to
the Lord and to confess my sins. And as I prayed, the heavens were opened, and
I see the woman whom I had desired saluting me from the sky, and saying,
"Hail, Hermas!" And looking up to her, I said, "Lady, what doest
thou here?" And she answered me, "I have been taken up here to accuse
you of your sins before the Lord." "Lady," said I, "are you
to be the subject of my accusation?" "No," said she; "but
hear the words which I am going to speak to you. God,
who
dwells in the heavens, and made out of nothing the things that exist, and
multiplied and increased them on account
of His holy Church, is angry with you for having sinned against me." I
answered her, "Lady, have I sinned against you? How? or when spoke I an unseemly
word to you? Did I not always think of you as a lady? Did I not always respect you
as a sister? Why do you falsely accuse me of this wickedness and
impurity?" With a smile she replied to me, "The desire of wickedness
arose within your heart. Is it not your opinion that a righteous man commits
sin when an evil desire arises in his heart? There
is
sin in such a case, and the sin is great," said she; "for the thoughts
of a righteous man should be righteous. For by thinking righteously his
character is established in the heavens,
and he has the Lord merciful to him in every business. But those who entertain wicked
thoughts in their minds are bringing upon themselves death and captivity; and especially
is this the case with those who set their affections on this world, and glory
in their riches, and look not forward to the blessings of the life to come. For
many will their regrets be; for they have no hope, but have despaired of
themselves and their life. But do
thou
pray to God, and He will heal thy sins, and the sins of thy whole house, and of
all the saints."
CHAPTER II.
After
she had spoken these words, the heavens were shut. I was overwhelmed with sorrow and fear, and said to myself, "If
this sin is assigned to me, how can I be saved, or how shall I propitiate God
in regard to my sins, which are of the grossest character? With what words
shall I ask the Lord to be merciful to me? While I was thinking over these things,
and discussing them in my mind, I saw opposite to me a chair, white, made of
white wool, of great size. And there came up an old woman, arrayed in a
splendid robe, and with a book in her hand; and she sat down alone, and saluted
me, "Hail, Hermas!" And in sadness and tears I said to her,
"Lady, hail!" And she said to me, "Why are you downcast, Hermas?
for you were wont to be patient and temperate, and always
smiling.
Why are you so gloomy, and not cheerful?I answered her and said, "O Lady,
I have been reproached by a very good woman, who says that I sinned against
her." And she said, "Far be such a deed from a servant of God. But
perhaps a desire after her has arisen within your heart. Such a wish, in the
case of the servants of God, produces sin. For it is a wicked and horrible wish
in an all-chaste and already well-tried spirit to desire an evil deed; and
especially for Hermas so to do, who keeps himself from all wicked desire, and
is full of all simplicity, and of great guilelessness.
CHAPTER III.
"But
God is not angry with you on account of this, but that you may convert your
house, which have committed iniquity against the Lord, and against you, their
parents. And although you love your sons, yet did you not warn your house, but
permitted them to be terribly corrupted. On this account is the Lord angry with
you, but He will heal all the evils which have been done in your house. For, on
account of their sins and iniquities, you have been destroyed by the affairs of
this world. But now the mercy of the Lord has taken pity on you and your house,
and will strengthen you, and establish you in his glory. Only be not
easy-minded, but be of good courage and comfort your house. For as a smith hammers out his work, and
accomplishes whatever he wishes," so shall
righteous
daily speech overcome all iniquity. Cease not therefore to admonish your sons;
for I know that, if they will repent with all their heart, they will be
enrolled in the Books of Life with the saints." Having ended these words,
she said to me, "Do you wish to hear me read?" I say to her,
"Lady, I do." "Listen then, and give ear to the glories of
God." And then I heard from her, magnificently and admirably, things which
my memory could not retain. For all the words were terrible, such as man could
not endure. The last words, however, I did remember; for they were useful to
us, and gentle. "Lo, the God of powers, who by His invisible strong power
and great wisdom has created the world, and by
His glorious counsel has surrounded His creation with beauty, and by His strong
word has fixed the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth upon the
waters, and by His own wisdom and providence has created His holy Church, which
He has blessed, lo! He removes the heavens and the mountains, the hills and the
seas, and all things become plain to His elect, that He may bestow on them the
blessing which He has promised them, with much glory and joy, if only they
shall keep the commandments of God which they have received in great
faith."
CHAPTER IV.
When
she had ended her reading, she rose from the chair, and four young men came and
carried off the chair and went away to the east. And she called me to herself
and touched my breast, and said to me," Have you been pleased with my
reading?" And I say to her, "Lady, 11 the last words please me, but
the first are cruel and harsh." Then she said to me, "The last are
for the righteous: the first are for heathens and apostates." And while
she spoke to me, two men appeared and raised her on their shoulders, and they
went to where the chair was in the east. With joyful countenance did she
depart; and as she went, she said to me, "Behave like a man, Hermas."
Second
Vision
AGAIN, OF HIS NEGLECT IN
CHASTISING HIS TALKATIVE WIFE AND HIS LUSTFUL SONS, AND OF HIS CHARACTER.
CHAPTER I.
As
I was going to the country about the same time as on the previous year, in my
walk I recalled to memory the vision of that year. And again the Spirit carried
me away, and took me to the same place where I had been the year before. On
coming to that place, I bowed my knees and began to pray to the Lord, and to
glorify His name, because He had deemed me worthy, and had made known to me my
former sins. On rising from prayer, I see opposite me that old woman, whom I
had seen the year before, walking and reading some book. And she says to me,
"Can you carry a report of these things to the elect of God?" I say
to her, "Lady, so much I cannot retain in my memory, but give me the book
and I shall transcribe it." "Take it," says she, "and you
will give it back to me." Thereupon I took it, and going away into a
certain part of the country, I transcribed the whole of it letter by letter;
but the syllables of it I did not catch. No sooner, however, had I finished the
writing of the book, than all of a sudden it was snatched from my hands; but
who the person was that snatched it, I saw not.
CHAPTER II.
Fifteen
days after, when I had fasted and prayed much to the Lord, the knowledge of the
writing was revealed to me. Now the writing was to this effect: "Your
seed, O Hermas, has sinned against God,
and they have blasphemed against the Lord, and in their great wickedness they
have betrayed their parents. And they passed as traitors of their parents, and
by their treachery did they not reap profit. And even now they have added to
their sins lusts and iniquitous pollutions, and thus their iniquities have,
been filled up. But make known these words to all your children, and to your
wife, who is to be your sister.
For she does not restrain her tongue, with which she commits iniquity; but, on hearing
these words, she will control herself, and will obtain mercy. For after you
have made known to them these words which my Lord has commanded me to reveal to
you, then shall they be forgiven all the sins which in former times they
committed, and forgiveness
will be granted to all the saints who have sinned even to the present day, if they
repent with all their heart, and drive all doubts from their minds. For the
Lord has sworn by His glory, in regard to His elect, that if any one of them
sin after a certain day which has been fixed, he shall not be saved. For the
repentance of the righteous has limits. Filled up are the days of repentance to
all the saints; but to the heathen, repentance will be possible even to the
last day. You will tell, therefore, those who preside over the Church, to
direct their ways in righteousness, that they may receive in full the promises
with great glory. Stand stedfast, therefore, ye who work righteousness, and
doubt not, that your passage may be with the holy angels. Happy ye who endure
the great tribulation that is coming on, and happy they who shall not deny
their own life. For the Lord hath sworn by His Son, that those who denied their
Lord have abandoned their life in despair, for even now these are to deny Him
in the days that are coming.
To those who denied in earlier times, God became gracious, on account of His exceeding
tender mercy.
CHAPTER III.
"But
as for you, Hermas, remember not the wrongs done to you by your children, nor neglect
your sister, that they may be cleansed from their former sins. For they will be
instructed with righteous instruction, if you remember not the wrongs they have
done you. For the remembrance of wrongs worketh death. And you, Henna, have
endured great personal tribulations on account of the transgressions of your
house, because you did not attend to them, but were careless and engaged in
your wicked transactions. But you are saved, because you did not depart from
the living God, and on account of your simplicity and great self-control. These
have saved you, if you remain stedfast. And they will
save all who act in the same manner, and walk in guilelessness and simplicity. Those
who possess such virtues will wax strong against every form of wickedness, and will
abide unto eternal life. Blessed are all they who practise righteousness, for
they shall never be destroyed. Now you will tell Maximus: Lo! tribulation
cometh on. If it seemeth good to thee, deny again. The Lord is near to them who
return unto Him, as it is written in Eldad and Modat, who prophesied to the
people in the wilderness."
CHAPTER IV.
Now
a revelation was given to me, my brethren, while I slept, by a young man of
comely appearance, who said to me, "Who do you think that old woman is
from whom you received the book?" And I said, "The Sibyl."
"You are in a mistake," says he; "it is not the Sibyl."
"Who is it then?" say I. And he said, "It is the Church."
And I said to him, "Why then is she an old woman? "Because,"
said he, "she was created first of all. On this account is she old. And
for her sake was the world made." After that I saw a vision in my house,
and that old woman came and asked me, if I had yet given the book to the presbyters.
And I said that I had not. And then she said, "You have done well for I
have some words to add. But when I finish all the words, all the elect will
then become acquainted with them through you. You will write therefore two
books, and you will send
the one to Clemens and the other to Grapte. And Clemens will send his to
foreign countries, for permission has been granted to him to do so. And Grapte
will admonish the widows and the orphans. But you will read the words in this
city, along with the presbyters who preside over the Church.
Third Vision
CONCERNING THE BUILDING OF THE
TRIUMPHANT CHURCH, AND THE VARIOUS CLASSES OF REPROBATE MEN.
CHAPTER I.
The
vision which I saw, my brethren, was of the following nature. Having fasted frequently,
and having prayed to the Lord that He would show me the revelation which He
promised to show me through that old woman, the same night that old woman appeared
to me, and said to me, "Since you are so anxious and eager to know all
things, go into the part of the country where you tarry; and about the fifth
hour I shall appear unto you, and show you all that you ought to see." I
asked her, saying "Lady, into what part of the country am I to go?"
And she said, "Into any part you wish." Then I chose a spot which was
suitable, and retired. Before, however, I began to speak and to mention the
place, she said to me, "I will come where you wish." Accordingly, I
went to the country,
and counted the hours, and reached the place where I, had promised to meet her.
And I see an ivory seat ready placed, and on it a linen cushion, and above the
linen cushion was spread a covering of fine linen. Seeing these laid out, and
yet no one in the place, I began to feel awe, and as it were a trembling seized
hold of me, and my hair stood on end, and as it were a horror came upon me when
I saw that I was all alone. But on coming back to myself and calling to mind
the glory of God, I took courage, bent my knees, and again confessed my sins to
God as I had done before. Whereupon the old woman approached, accompanied by
six young men whom I had also seen before; and she stood behind me, and
listened to me, as I prayed and confessed my sins to the Lord. And
touching me she said, "Hermas, cease praying continually for your sins;
pray for righteousness, that you may 13 have a portion of it immediately in
your house." On this, she took me up by the hand, and brought me to the
seat, and said to the young men, "Go and build." When the young men
had gone and we were alone, she said to me, "Sit here." I say to her,
"Lady, 'permit my elders to be seated first." "Do what I bid
you," said she; "sit down." When I would have sat
down on her right, she did not permit me, but with her hand beckoned to me to
sit down on the left. While I was thinking about this, and feeling vexed that
she did not let me sit on the right, she said, "Are you vexed, Hermas? The
place to the right is for others who have already pleased God, and have
suffered for His name's sake; and you have yet much to accomplish before you
can sit with them. But abide as you now do in your simplicity, and you will sit
with them, and with all who do their deeds and bear what they have borne."
CHAPTER II.
"What
have they borne?" said I. "Listen," said she: "scourges,
prisons, great tribulations, crosses, wild beasts, for God's name's sake. On
this account is assigned to them the division of santification on the right
hand, and to every one who shall suffer for God's name: to the rest is assigned
the division on the left. But both for those who sit on the right, and those
who sit on the left, there are the same gifts and promises; only those sit on
the right, and have some glory. You then are eager to sit on the right with
them, but your shortcomings are many. But you will be cleansed from your
shortcomings; and all who are not given to doubts shall be cleansed from all
their iniquities up till this day."
Saying
this, she wished to go away. But falling down at her feet, I begged her by the
Lord that she would show me the vision which she had promised to show me. And
then she again took hold of me by the hand, and raised me, and made me sit on
the seat to the left; and lifting up a
splendid rod, she said to me, "Do you see something great?" And I say,
"Lady, I see nothing." She said to me, "Lo! do you not see
opposite to you a great tower, built upon the waters, of splendid square
stones?" For the tower was built square by those six young men who had
come with her. But myriads of men were carrying stones to it, some dragging
them from the depths, others removing them from the land, and they handed them
to these six young men. They were taking them and building; and
those. of the stones that were dragged out of the depths, they placed in the
building just as they were: for they were polished and fitted exactly into the
other stones, and became so united one with another that the lines of juncture
could not be perceived. And
in this way the building of the tower looked as if it were made out of one
stone. Those stones, however, which were taken from the earth suffered a
different fate; for the young men rejected some of them, some they fitted into
the building, and some they cut down, and cast far away from the tower. Many other
stones, however, lay around the tower, and the young men did not use them in building;
for some of them were rough, others had cracks in them, others had been made
too short, and others were white and round, but did not fit into the building
of the tower. Moreover, I saw other stones thrown far away from the tower, and
falling into the public road; yet they did not remain on the road, but were
rolled into a pathless place. And I saw others falling into the fire and
burning, others falling close to the water, and yet not capable of being
rolled
into the water, though they wished to be rolled down, and to enter the water.
CHAPTER III.
On
showing me these visions, she wished to retire. I said to her, "What is
the use of my having seen all this, while I do not know what it means?"
She said to me, "You are a cunning fellow, wishing to know everything that
relates to the tower." "Even so, O Lady," said I, "that I
may tell it to my brethren, that, hearing this, they may know the Lord in much
glory." And she said, "Many indeed shall hear, and hearing, some
shall be glad, and some shall weep. But even these, if they hear and repent,
shall also rejoice. Hear, then, the parables of the tower; for I will reveal
all to you, and give me no more trouble in regard to revelation: for these revelations
have an end, for they have been completed. But
you will not cease praying for revelations, for you are shameless. The tower
which you see building is myself, the Church, who have appeared to you now and
on the former occasion. Ask, then, whatever you like in regard to the tower,
and I will reveal it to you, that you may rejoice with the saints." I said
unto her, "Lady, since you have vouchsafed to reveal all to me this once,
reveal it." She said to me, "Whatsoever ought to be revealed, will be
revealed; only let your heart be with God, and doubt not whatsoever you shall
see." 14 I asked her, "Why was the tower built upon the waters, O
Lady?" She answered, "I told you
before, and you still inquire carefully: therefore inquiring you shall find the
truth. Hear then why the tower is built upon the waters. It is because your
life has been, and will be, saved through water. For the tower was founder on
the word of the almighty and glorious Name and it is kept together by the
invisible power of the Lord."
CHAPTER IV.
In
reply I said to her, "This is magnificent and marvellous. But who are the
six young men who are engaged in building?" And she said, "These are
the holy angels of God, who were first created, and to whom the Lord handed
over His whole creation, that they might increase and build up and rule over
the whole creation. By these will the building of the tower be finished."
"But who are the other persons who are engaged in carrying the
stones?" These also are holy angels of the Lord, but the former six are
more excellent than these. The building of the tower will be finished, and all
will rejoice together around the tower, and they will glorify God, because the
tower is finished." I asked her, saying,
"Lady, I should like to know what became of the stones, and what was meant
by the various kinds of stones?" In reply she said to me, "Not
because you are more deserving than all others that this revelation should be
made to you--for there are others before you, and better than you, to whom
these visions should have been revealed--but that the name of God may be
glorified, has the revelation been made to you, and it will be made on account
of the doubtful who ponder in their hearts whether these things will be or not.
Tell them that all these things are true, and that none of them is beyond the
truth. All of them are firm and sure, and established on a strong foundation.
CHAPTER V.
"Hear
now with regard to the stones which are in the building. Those square white stones
which fitted exactly into each other, are apostles, bishops, teachers, and
deacons, who have lived in godly purity, and have acted as bishops and teachers
and deacons chastely and reverently to the elect of God. Some of them have fallen
asleep, and some still remain alive. And they have always agreed with each
other, and been at peace among themselves, and listened to each other. On
account of this, they join exactly into the building of the tower."
"But who are the stones that were dragged from the depths, and which were
laid into the building and fitted in with the rest of the stones previously placed
in the tower?" "They are those who suffered for the Lord's
sake." "But I wish to know,
O Lady, who are the other stones which were carried from the land."
"Those," she said, "which go into the building without being polished,
are those whom God has approved of, for they walked in the straight ways of the
Lord and practised His commandments." "But who are those who are in
the act of being brought and placed in the building?" "They are those
who are young in faith and are faithful. But they are admonished by the angels
to do good, for no iniquity has been found in them." "Who then are
those whom they rejected and cast away?" "These are they who have
sinned, and wish to repent. On this account they have not been thrown far from
the tower, because they will yet be useful in the building, if they repent.
Those then who are to repent, if they do repent, will be strong in faith, if
they now repent while the tower is building. For if the building be finished,
there will not be more room for any one, but he will
be rejected. This privilege, however, will belong only to him who has now been placed
near the tower.
CHAPTER VI.
"As
to those who were cut down and thrown far away from the tower, do you wish to know
who they are? They are the sons of iniquity, and they believed in hypocrisy,
and wickedness did not depart from them.
For this reason they are not saved, since they cannot be used in the building
on account of their iniquities. Wherefore they have been cut off and cast far
away on account of the anger of the Lord, for they have roused Him to anger.
But I shall explain to you the other stones which you saw lying in great numbers,
and not going into the building. Those which are rough are those who have known
the truth and not remained in it, nor have they been joined to the saints. On
this account are they unfit for use." "Who are those that have rents?"
"These are they who are at discord in their hearts one with another, and
are not at peace amongst themselves: they indeed keep peace before each other,
but when they separate one from the other, their wicked thoughts remain in 15
their
hearts. These, then, are the rents which are in the stones. But those which are
shortened are those who have indeed believed, and have the larger share of
righteousness;
yet they have also a considerable share of iniquity, and therefore they are shortened
and not whole." "But who are these, Lady, that are white and round,
and yet do not fit into the building of the tower?" She answered and said,
"How long will you be foolish and stupid, and continue to put every kind
of question and understand nothing? These are those who have faith indeed, but
they have also the riches of this world. When, therefore, tribulation comes, on
account of their riches and business they deny the Lord." I answered and
said to her, "When, then, will they be useful for the building, Lady?"When
the riches that now seduce them have been circumscribed, then will they be of
use to God. For as a round stone cannot become square unless portions be cut
off and cast away, so also those who are rich in this world cannot be useful to
the Lord
unless
their riches be cut down. Learn this first from your own case. When you were rich,
you were useless; but now you are useful and fit for life. Be ye useful to God;
for you also will be used as one of these stones.
CHAPTER VII,
"Now
the other stones which you saw cast far away from the tower, and falling upon
the public road and rolling from it into pathless places, are those who have
indeed believed, but through doubt have abandoned the true road. Thinking,
then, that they could find a better, they wander and become wretched, and enter
upon pathless places. But those which fell into the fire and were burned? are
those who have departed for ever from the living God; nor does the thought of
repentance ever come into their hearts, on account of their devotion to their
lusts and to the crimes which they committed. Do you wish to know who are the
others which fell near the waters, but could not be rolled into them? These are
they who have heard the word, and wish to be baptized in the name of the Lord;
but when the chastity demanded by the truth comes into their recollection, they
draw back, and again walk after their own wicked desires." She finished
her exposition of the tower. But I, shameless as I yet was, asked her, "Is
repentance possible for all those stones which have been cast away and did not
fit into the building of the tower, and will they yet have a place in this
tower?" "Repentance," said she, "is yet possible, but in
this tower they cannot find a suitable place. But in another and much inferior
place they will be laid, and that, too, only when they have been tortured and completed
the days of their sins. And on this account will they be transferred, because they
have partaken of the righteous Word. And then only will they be removed from their
punishments when the thought of repenting of the evil deeds which they have done
has come into their hearts. But if it does not come into their hearts, they
will not be saved,
on account of the hardness of their heart."
CHAPTER VIII.
When
then I ceased asking in regard to all these matters, she said to me, "Do
you wish to see anything else?" And as I was extremely eager to see
something more, my countenance beamed with joy. She looked towards me with a
smile, and said, "Do you see seven women around the tower?" "I
do, Lady," said I. "This tower," said she, "is supported by
them according to the precept of the Lord. Listen now to their functions. The
first of them, who is clasping her hands, is called Faith. Through her the
elect of God are saved? Another, who has her garments tucked up and acts with
vigour, is called Self-restraint. She is the daughter of Faith. Whoever then
follows her will become happy in his life, because he will restrain himself
from all evil works, believing that, if he restrain
himself from all evil desire, he will inherit eternal life." "But the
others," said I, "O Lady, who are they?" And she said to me,
"They are daughters of each other. One of them is called Simplicity,
another Guilelessness, another Chastity, another Intelligence, another Love.
When then you do all the works of their mother, you will be able to live." "I
should like to know," said I, "O Lady, what power each one of them
possesses." "Hear," she said, "what power they have. Their
powers are regulated by each other, and follow each other in the 16 order of
their birth. For from Faith arises Self-restraint; from Self-restraint,
Simplicity; from Simplicity, Guilelessness; from Guilelessness, Chastity; from
Chastity, Intelligence; and
from Intelligence, Love. The deeds, then, of these are pure, and chaste, and
divine. Whoever devotes himself to these, and is able to hold fast by their
works, shall have his dwelling in the tower with the saints of God." Then
I asked her in regard to the ages, if now there is the conclusion. She cried
out with a loud voice, "Foolish man! do you not see the tower yet
building? When the tower is finished and built, then comes the end; and I
assure you it will be soon finished. Ask me no more questions. Let you and all
the saints be content with what I have called to your remembrance, and with my
renewal of your spirits. But
observe that it is not for your own sake only that these revelations have been
made to you, but they have been given you that you may show them to all. For
after three days--this you will take care to remember--I Command you to speak
all the words which I am to say to you into the ears of the saints, that
hearing them and doing them, they may be cleansed from their iniquities, and
you along with them."
CHAPTER IX.
Give
ear unto me, O Sons: I have brought you up in much simplicity, and guilelessness,
and chastity, on account of the mercy of the Lord, who has dropped His
righteousness down upon you, that ye may be made righteous and holy from all
your iniquity and depravity; but you do not wish to rest from your iniquity.
Now, therefore, listen to me, and be at peace one with another, and visit each
other, and bear each other's burdens, and do not partake of God's creatures
alone, but give abundantly of them to the needy. For some through the abundance
of their food produce weakness in their flesh, and thus corrupt their flesh;
while the flesh of others who have no food is corrupted, because
they
have not sufficient nourishment. And on this account their bodies waste away.
This intemperance in eating is thus injurious to you who have abundance and do
not distribute among those who are needy. Give heed to the judgment that is to
come. Ye, therefore, who are high in position, seek out the hungry as long as
the tower is not yet finished; for after the tower is finished, you will wish
to do good, but will find no opportunity. Give heed, therefore, ye who glory in
your wealth, lest those who are needy should groan, and their groans should
ascend to the Lord, and ye be shut out with all your goods beyond the gate of
the tower. Wherefore I now say to you who preside over the Church and love the
first seats, "Be not like to drug-mixers. For the drug-mixers
carry
their drugs in boxes, but ye carry your drug and poison m your heart. Ye are hardened,
and do not wish to cleanse your hearts, and to add unity of aim to purity
of heart, that you may have mercy from
the great King. Take heed, therefore, children, that these dissensions of yours
do not deprive you of your life. How will you instruct the elect of the Lord,
if you yourselves have not instruction? Instruct each other therefore, and be at
peace among yourselves, that I also, standing joyful before your Father, may
give an account of you all to your Lord."
CHAPTER X.
On
her ceasing to speak to me, those six young men who were engaged in building came
and conveyed her to the tower, and other four lifted up the seat and carried it
also to the tower. The faces of these last I did not see, for they were turned
away from me. And as she was going, I asked her to reveal to me the meaning of
the three forms in which she appeared to me. In reply she said to me:
"With regard to them, you must ask another to reveal their meaning to
you." For she had appeared to me, brethren, in the first vision the
previous year under the form of an exceedingly old woman, sitting in a chair.
In the second vision her face was youthful, but her skin and hair betokened
age, and she stood while she spoke to me. She was also more joyful than on the
first occasion. But in the third vision she was entirely youthful and
exquisitely beautiful, except only that
she had the hair of an old woman; but her face beamed with joy, and she sat on
a seat. Now I was exceeding sad in regard to these appearances, for I longed
much to know what the visions meant. Then I see the old woman in a vision of
the night saying unto me: "Every prayer should be accompanied with humility:
fast, therefore, and you will obtain from the Lord what you beg." I fasted
therefore for one day. That very night there appeared to me a young man, who
said, "Why do you frequently ask revelations in prayer? Take heed lest by
asking many things you injure your flesh: be content 17with these revelations. Will you be able to see greater' revelations
than those which you have
seen?" I answered and said to him, "Sir, one thing only I ask, that
in regard to these three forms the revelation may be rendered complete."
He answered me, "How long are ye senseless? But your doubts make you senseless, because you have not your hearts turned towards the Lord." But
I answered and said to him, "From you, sir, we shall learn these things
more accurately."
CHAPTER XI.
"Hear
then," said he, "with regard to the three forms, concerning which you
are
inquiring.
Why in the first vision did she appear to you as an old woman seated on a chair?
Because your spirit is now old and withered up, and has lost its power in consequence
of your infirmities and doubts. For, like elderly men who have no hope of renewing
their strength, and expect nothing but their last sleep, so you, weakened by worldly
occupations, have given yourselves up to sloth, and have not cast your cares upon
the Lord. Your spirit therefore is broken, and you have grown old in your sorrows."
"I should like then to know, sir, why she sat on a chair?" He
answered, "Because every weak person sits on a chair on account of his
weakness, that his weakness may be
sustained. Lo! you have the form of the first vision.
CHAPTER XII.
"Now
in the second vision you saw her standing with a youthful countenance, and more
joyful than before; still she had the skin and hair of an aged woman.
Hear," said he, "this parable also. When one becomes somewhat old, he
despairs of himself on account of his weakness and poverty, and looks forward
to nothing but the last day of his life. Then suddenly an inheritance is left
him: and hearing of this, he rises up, and becoming exceeding joyful, he puts
on strength. And now he no longer reclines, but stands up; and his spirit,
already destroyed by his previous actions, is renewed, and he no longer sits, but
acts with vigour. So happened it with you on hearing the revelation which God
gave you. For the Lord had compassion on you, and renewed your spirit, and ye
laid aside your infirmities. Vigour arose within you, and ye grew strong in
faith; and the Lord, seeing your strength, rejoiced. On this account He showed
you the building of the tower; and He will show you other things, if you
continue at peace with each other with all your heart.
CHAPTER XIII.
"Now,
in the third vision, you saw her still younger, and she was noble and joyful,
and her shape was beautiful. For, just as when some good news comes suddenly to
one who is sad, immediately he forgets his former sorrows, and looks for
nothing else than the good news which he has heard, and for the future is made
strong for good, and his spirit is renewed on account of the joy which he has
received; so ye also have received the renewal of your spirits by seeing these
good things. As to your seeing her sitting on a seat, that means that her position
is one of strength, for a seat has four feet and standsfirmly. For the world
also is kept together by means of four elements. Those, therefore,
who
repent completely and with the whole heart, will become young and firmly established.
You now have the revelation completely given you? Make no further demands for
revelations. If anything ought to be revealed, it will be revealed to
you."
Fourth
Vision
CONCERNING THE TRIAL AND
TRIBULATION THAT ARE TO COME UPON MEN.
CHAPTER I.
Twenty
days after the former vision I saw another vision, brethren --a representation
of the tribulation that is to come. I was going to a country house along the
Campanian road. Now the house lay about ten furlongs from the public road. The
district is one rarely traversed. And as I walked alone, I prayed the Lord to complete
the revelations which He had made to me through His holy Church, that He might
strengthen me, and give repentance to all His servants who were going astray,
that His great and glorious name might be glorified because He vouchsafed to
show me His marvels. And while I was glorifying Him and giving Him thanks, a
voice, as it were, answered me, "Doubt not,
Hermas;"
and I began to think with myself, and to say, "What reason have I to
doubt—I who have been established by the Lord, and who have seen such glorious
sights?" I advanced a little, brethren, and, lo! I see dust rising even to
the heavens. I began to say to myself, "Are cattle approaching and raising
the dust?" It was about a furlong's distance from me. And, 18 lo! I see
the dust rising more and more, so that I imagined that it was something sent from
God. But the sun now shone out a little, and, lo! I see a mighty beast like a
whale, and
out of its mouth fiery locusts proceeded. But the size of that beast was about
a hundred feet, and it had a head like an urn. I began to weep, and to call on
the Lord to rescue me from it. Then I remembered the word which I had heard,
"Doubt not, O Hermas." Clothed, therefore, my brethren, with faith in
the Lord? and remembering the great things which He had taught me, I boldly
faced the beast. Now that beast came on with such noise and force, that it
could itself have destroyed a city. I came near it, and the monstrous beast
stretched itself out on the ground, and showed nothing but its tongue, and did
not stir at all until I had passed by it. Now the beast had four colours on its
head-black, then fiery and bloody, then golden, and lastly white.
CHAPTER II.
Now
after I had passed by the wild beast, and had moved forward about thirty feet,
lo! A virgin meets me, adorned as if she were proceeding from the bridal
chamber, clothed entirely in white, and with white sandals, and veiled up to
her forehead, and her head was covered by a hood.s And she had white hair. I knew
from my former visions that this was the Church, and I became more joyful. She
saluted me, and said, "Hail, O man!" And I returned her salutation,
and said, "Lady, hail!" And she answered. and said to me, Has nothing
crossed your path?" I say, "I was met by a beast of such a size that
it could destroy peoples, but through the power of the Lord and His great mercy
I escaped from
it."
"Well did you escape from it," says she, "because you cast your
care on God, and opened your heart to the Lord, believing that you can be saved
by no other than by His great and glorious name. On this account the Lord has
sent His angel, who has rule over the beasts, and whose name is Thegri, and has
shut up its mouth, so that it cannot tear you. You have escaped from great
tribulation on account of your faith, and because you did not doubt in the
presence of such a beast. Go, therefore, and tell the elect of the Lord His
mighty deeds, and say to them that this beast is a type of the great
tribulation that is coming. If then ye prepare yourselves, and repent with all
your heart, and turn to the Lord, it will be possible for you to escape it, if
your heart be pure and spotless, and ye spend
the rest of the days of your life in serving the Lord blamelessly. Cast your
cares upon the Lord, and He will direct them. Trust the Lord, ye who doubt, for
He is all powerful, and can turn His anger away from you, and send
scourges" on the doubters. Woe to those who hear these words, and despise
them: better were it for them not to have been born."
CHAPTER III.
I
asked her about the four colours which the beast had on his head. And she
answered, and said to me, "Again you are inquisitive in regard to such
matters." "Yea, Lady, said I, "make known to me what they
are." "Listen," said she: "the black is the world in which
we dwell: but the fiery and bloody points out that
the world must perish through blood and fire: but the golden part are you who have
escaped from this world. For as gold is tested by fire, and thus becomes
useful, so are you tested who dwell in it. Those, therefore, who continue stedfast,
and are put through the fire, will be purified by means of it. For as gold
casts away its dross, so also will ye cast away all sadness and straitness, and
will be made pure so as to fit into the building of the tower. But the white
part is the age that is to come, in which the elect of God will dwell, since
those elected by God to eternal life will be spotless and pure. Wherefore
cease not speaking these things into the ears of the saints. This then is the type
of the great tribulation that is to come. If ye wish it, it will be nothing.
Remember those things which were written down before." And saying this,
she departed. But I saw not into what place she retired. There was a noise,
however, and I turned round in alarm, thinking that that beast was coming.
Fifth Vision
CONCERNING THE COMMANDMENTS.
After
I had been praying at home, and had sat down on my couch, there entered a man of
glorious aspect, dressed like a shepherd, with a white goat's skin, a wallet on
his shoulders, and a rod in his hand, and saluted me. I returned his
salutation. And straightway he sat down beside me, and said to me, "I have
been sent by a most venerable angel to dwell with you the remaining days of
your life." And I thought that he had come to tempt me, and I said to him,
"Who are you? For I know him to whom I have been entrusted." He said
to me, "Do you not know me?" "No," said I. "I,"
said he, "am that shepherd to whom you have been entrusted." And as
he was speaking, his figure was changed; and then I knew that it was he to whom
I had been entrusted. And straightway I became confused, and fear took hold of
me, and I was overpowered with deep sorrow that I had answered him so wickedly
and foolishly. But he answered, and said to me, "Do not be confounded, but
receive strength from the commandments which I am going to give you. For I have
been sent," said he, "to show you again all the things which you saw
before, especially those of them which are useful to you. First of all, then, write
down my commandments and similitudes, and you will write the other things as I shall
show you. For this purpose," said he, "I command you to write down
the commandments and similitudes first, that you may read them easily, and be
able to keep them." Accordingly I wrote down the commandments and
similitudes, exactly as he had ordered me. If then, when you have heard these,
ye keep them and walk in them, and practise them with pure minds, you will
receive from the Lord all that He has promised to you. But if, after you have
heard them, ye do not repent, but continue to add to your sins, then shall ye
receive from the Lord the opposite things. All these words did the shepherd,
even the angel of repentance, command me to write.
ON FAITH IN GOD.
FIRST
Of all, believe that there is one God who created and finished all things, and
made all things out of nothing. He alone is able to contain the whole, but
Himself cannot be contained. Have faith therefore in Him, and fear Him; and
fearing Him, exercise selfcontrol. Keep these commands, and you will cast away
from you all wickedness, and put on the strength of righteousness, and live to
God, if you keep this commandment.
ON AVOIDING EVIL-SPEAKING, AND ON GIVING ALMS IN SIMPLICITY.
He
said to me, "Be simple and guileless, and you will be as the children who
know not the wickedness that ruins the life of men. First, then, speak evil of
no one, nor listen with pleasure to any one who speaks evil of another. But if
you listen, you will partake of the sin of him who speaks evil, if you believe
the slander which you hear; for believing it, you will also have something to
say against your brother. Thus, then, will you be guilty of the sin of him who
slanders. For slander is evil and an unsteady demon. It never abides in peace,
but always remains in discord. Keep yourself from it, and you will always be at
peace with all. Put on a holiness in which there is no wicked cause of offence,
but all deeds that are equable and joyful. Practise goodness; and from the
rewards
of your labours, which God gives you, give to all the needy in simplicity, not hesitating
as to whom you are to give or not to give. Give to all, for God wishes His
gifts to be shared amongst all. They who receive, will render an account to God
why and for
what
they have received. For the afflicted who receive will not be condemned, but
they who receive on false pretences will suffer punishment. He, then, who gives
is guiltless. For as he received from the Lord, so has he accomplished his
service in simplicity, not hesitating as to whom he should give and to whom he
should not give. This service, then, if accomplished in simplicity, is glorious
with God. He, therefore, who thus ministers in simplicity, will live to God.
Keep therefore these commandments, as I have given them to you, that your
repentance and the repentance of your house may be found in simplicity, and
your heart may be pure and stainless."
Third Commandment
ON AVOIDING FALSEHOOD, AND ON THE
REPENTANCE OF HERMAS FOR HIS DISSIMULATION.
Again
he said to me, "Love the truth, and let nothing but truth proceed from
your mouth, that the spirit which God has placed in your flesh may be found
truthful before all men; and the Lord, who dwelleth in you, will be glorified,
because the Lord is truthful in every word, and in Him is no falsehood. They
therefore who lie deny theLord,
and rob Him, not giving back to Him the deposit which they have received. For they
received from Him a spirit free from falsehood. If they give him back this
spirit untruthful, they pollute the commandment of the Lord, and become
robbers." On hearing these words, I wept most violently. When he saw me
weeping, he said to me, "Why do you weep?" And I said, "Because,
sir, I know not if I can be saved." "Why?" said he. And I said,
"Because, sir, I never spake a true word in my life, but have ever spoken cunningly
to all, and have affirmed a lie for the truth to all; and no one ever contradicted
me, but credit was given to my word. How then can I live, since I have acted
thus?" And he said to me, "Your feelings are indeed right and sound,
for you ought as a servant of God to have walked in truth, and not to have
joined an evil conscience with the spirit of truth, nor to have caused sadness
to the holy and true Spirit." s And I said to him, "Never, sir, did I
listen to these words with so much attention." And he said to me,
"Now you hear them, and keep them, that even the falsehoods which you formerly
told in your transactions may come to be believed through the truthfulness of your
present statements. For even they can become worthy of credit. If you keep
these precepts, and from this time forward you speak nothing but the truth, it
will be possible for you to obtain life. And whosoever shall hear this
commandment, and depart from that great wickedness falsehood, shall live to
God."
Fourth Commandment
ON PUTTING ONE'S WIFE AWAY FOR
ADULTERY.
CHAPTER I.
"I
charge you," said he, "to guard your chastity, and let no thought
enter your heart of another man's wife, or of fornication, or of similar iniquities;
for by doing this you commit a great sin. But if you always remember your own wife,
you will never sin. For if this thought enter your heart, then you will sin;
and if, in like manner, you think other wicked thoughts, you commit sin. For
this thought is great sin in a servant of God. But if any one commit this
wicked deed, he works death for himself. Attend, therefore, and refrain from
this thought; for where purity dwells, there iniquity ought not to enter the heart
of a righteous man." I said to him, "Sir, permit me to ask you a few
questions." "Say
on,"
said he. And I said to him, "Sir, if any one has a wife who trusts in the
Lord, and if he detect her in adultery, does the man sin if he continue to live
with her?" And he said to me, "As long as he remains ignorant of her
sin, the husband commits no transgression in living with her. But if the
husband know that his wife has gone astray, and if the woman does not repent,
but persists in her fornication, and yet the husband continues to live with
her, he also is guilty of her crime, and a sharer in her adultery." And I
said to him, "What then, sir, is the husband to do, if his wife continue
in her vicious practices?" And he said, "The husband should put her
away, and remain by himself. But if he put his wife away and marry another, he
also commits adultery." And I said to him, "What if the woman put
away should repent, and wish to return to her husband: shall she not be taken
back by her husband?" And he said to me, "Assuredly. If the husband
do not take her back, he sins, and brings a great sin upon himself; for he
ought to take back the sinner who has repented. But not frequently. For there
is but one repentance to the servants of God. In case, therefore, that the
divorced wife may repent, the husband ought not to marry another, when his wife
has been put away. In this matter man and woman are to be treated exactly in
the same way. Moreover, adultery is committed not only by those who pollute
their flesh, but by those who imitate the heathen in their actions."
Wherefore if any one persists in such deeds, and repents not, withdraw from him,
and cease to live with him. Otherwise you are a sharer in his sin. Therefore
has the injunction been laid on you, that you should remain by yourselves, both
man and woman, for in such persons repentance can take place. But I do
not," said he, "give opportunity for the doing of these deeds, but
that he who has sinned may sin no more. But with regard to his previous
transgressions, there is One who is able to provide a cure; for it is He,
indeed, who has power over all."
CHAPTER II.
I
asked him again, and said, "Since the Lord has vouchsafed to dwell always
with me, hear with me while I utter a few words; for I understand nothing, and
my heart has been hardened by my previous mode of life. Give me understanding,
for I am exceedingly dull, and I understand absolutely nothing." And he
answered and said unto me, "I am set over repentance, and I give
understanding to all who repent. Do you not think," he said, "that it
is great wisdom to repent? for repentance is great wisdom. For he who
has sinned understands that he acted wickedly in the sight of the Lord, and
remembers
the actions he has done, and he repents, and no longer acts wickedly, but does
good munificently, and humbles and torments his soul because he has sinned. You
see, therefore, that repentance is great wisdom." And I said to him,
"It is for this reason, sir, that I inquire carefully into all things,
especially because I am a sinner; that I may know what works I should do, that
I may live: for my sins are many and various." And he said to me,
"You shall live if you keep my commandments, and walk in them; and whosoever
shall hear and keep these commandments, shall live to God."
CHAPTER III.
And
I said to him, "I should like to continue my questions." "Speak
on," said he. And I said, "I heard, sir, some teachers maintain that
there is no other repentance than that which takes place, when we descended
into the water and received remission of our former sins." He said to me,
"That was sound doctrine which you heard; for that is really the
case. For he who has received remission of his sins ought not to sin any more,
but to live in purity. Since, however, you inquire diligently into all things,
I will point this also out to you, not as giving occasion for error to those
who are to believe, or have lately believed, in the Lord. For those who have
now believed, and those who are to believe, have not repentance for their sins;
but they have remission of their previous sins. For to those who have been
called before these days, the Lord has set repentance. For the Lord, knowing
the heart, and foreknowing all things, knew the weakness of men and the manifold
wiles of the devil, that he would inflict some evil on the servants of God, and
would act wickedly towards them. The Lord, therefore, being merciful, has had
mercy on the work of His hand, and has set repentance for them; and He has
entrusted to me power over this repentance. And therefore I say to you, that if
any one is tempted by the devil, and sins after that great and holy calling. in
which the Lord has called His peopleto everlasting life, he has opportunity to
repent but once. But if he should sin frequently after this, and then repent,
to such a man his repentance will be of no avail; for with difficulty will he
live." And I said, "Sir, I feel that life has come back to me in
listening attentively
to these commandments; for I know that I shall be saved, if in future I sin no more."
And he said, "You will be saved, you and all who keep these
commandments."
CHAPTER IV.
And
again I asked him, saying, "Sir, since you have been so patient in
listening to me, will you show me this also?" "Speak," said he.
And I said, "If a wife or husband die, and the widower or widow marry,
does he or she commit sin?" "There is no sin in marrying again,"
said he; "but if they remain unmarried, they gain greater honour and glory
with the Lord; but if they marry, they do not sin. Guard, therefore, your
chastity and purity, and you will live to God. What commandments I now give
you, and what I am to give, keep from henceforth, yea, from the very day when
you were entrusted to me, and I will dwell in your house. And your former sins
will be forgiven, if you keep my commandments. And all shall be forgiven who
keep these my commandments, and walk in this chastity."
Fifth Commandment
OF SADNESS OF HEART, AND OF
PATIENCE.
CHAPTER I.
"Be
patient," said he, "and of good understanding, and you will rule over
every wickedwork, and you will work all righteousness. For if you be patient,
the Holy Spirit that dwells in you will be pure. He will not be darkened by any evil
spirit, but, dwelling in a broad
region, he will rejoice and be glad; and with the vessel in which he dwells he
will
serve
God in gladness, having great peace within himself. But if any outburst of
anger take place, forthwith the Holy Spirit, who is tender, is straitened, not
having a pure place, and He seeks to depart. For he is choked by the vile
spirit, and cannot attend on the Lord as he wishes, for anger pollutes him. For
the Lord dwells in long-suffering, but the devil in anger. The two spirits,
then, when dwelling in the same habitation, are at discord with each other, and
are troublesome to that man in whom they dwell. For if an exceedingly small
piece of wormwood be taken and put into a jar of honey, is not the honey
entirely destroyed, and does not the exceedingly small piece of wormwood entirely
take away the sweetness of the honey, so that it no longer affords any gratification
to its owner, but has become bitter, and lost its use? But if the wormwood be
not put into the honey, then the honey remains sweet, and is of use to its
owner. You see, then, that patience is sweeter than honey, and useful to God,
and the Lord dwells in it. But anger is bitter and useless. Now, if anger be
mingled with patience, the patience is polluted, and its prayer is not then useful
to God." "I should like, sir," said I, "to know the power
of anger, that I may guard myself against it." And he said, "If you
do not guard yourself against it, you and your house lose all hope of
salvation. Guard yourself, therefore, against it. For I am with you, and all
will depart from it who repent with their whole heart. For I will be with them,
and I will save them all. For all are justified by the most holy angel.
CHAPTER II.
"Hear
now," said he, "how wicked is the action of anger, and in what way it
overthrows the servants of God by its action, and turns them from righteousness.
But it does not turn away those who are full of faith, nor does it act on them,
for the power of the Lord is with them. It is the thoughtless and doubting that
it turns away. For as soon as it sees such men standing stedfast, it throws
itself into their hearts, and for nothing at all the man or woman becomes
embittered on account of occurrences in their daily life, as for instance on account
of their food, or some superfluous word that has been uttered, or on account
of some friend, or some gift or debt, or some such senseless affair. For all
these things are foolish and empty and unprofitable to the servants of God. But
patience is great, and mighty, and strong, and calm in the midst of great
enlargement, joyful, rejoicing, free from care, glorifying God at all times,
having no bitterness in her, and abiding continually meek and quiet. Now this
patience dwells with those who have complete faith. But anger is foolish, and fickle,
and senseless. Now, of folly is begotten bitterness, and of bitterness anger,
and of anger frenzy. This frenzy, the product of so many evils, ends in great
and incurable sin. For when all these spirits dwell in one vessel in which the
Holy Spirit also dwells, the vessel cannot contain them, but overflows. The
tender
Spirit, then, not being accustomed to dwell with the wicked spirit, nor with hardness,
withdraws from such a man, and seeks to dwell with meekness and peacefulness.
Then, when he withdraws from the man in whom he dwelt, the man is emptied of
the righteous Spirit; and being henceforward filled with evil spirits, he is in
a state of anarchy in every action, being dragged hither and thither by the
evil spirits, and there is a complete darkness in his mind as to everything
good. This, then, is whathappens to all the angry. Wherefore do you depart from
that most wicked spirit anger, and put on patience, and resist anger and
bitterness, and you will be found in company with the purity which is loved by
the Lord. Take care, then, that you neglect not by any chance this commandment:
for if you obey this commandment, you will be able to keep all
the other commandments which I am to give you. Be strong, then, in these commandments,
and put on power, and let all put on power, as many as wish to walk in them."
Sixth Commandment
HOW TO RECOGNISE THE TWO SPIRITS
ATTENDANT ON EACH MAN, AND HOW TO DISTINGUISH THE SUGGESTIONS OF THE ONE FROM
THOSE OF THE OTHER.
CHAPTER I.
"I
gave you," he said, "directions in the first commandment to attend to
faith, and fear, and self-restraint." "Even so, sir," said I.
And he said, "Now I wish to show you the powers of these, that you may
know what power each possesses. For their powers are double, and have relation
alike to the righteous and the unrighteous. Trust you, therefore, the righteous,
but put no trust in the unrighteous. For the path of righteousness is straight,
but that of unrighteousness is crooked. But walk in the straight and even way,
and mind not
the crooked. For the crooked path has no roads, but has many pathless places
and stumbling-blocks in it, and it is rough and thorny. It is injurious to
those who walk therein. But they who walk in the straight road walk evenly
without stumbling, because it is neither rough nor thorny. You see, then, that
it is better to walk in this road." "I wish to go by this road,"
said I. "You will go by it," said he; "and whoever turns to the
Lord with all his heart will walk in it."
CHAPTER II.
"Hear
now," said he, "in regard to faith. There are two angels with a
man--one of righteousness, and the other of iniquity." And I said to him,
"How, sir, am I to know the powers of these, for both angels dwell with
me?" "Hear," said he, and "understand them. The angel of
righteousness is gentle and modest, meek and peaceful. When, therefore, he
ascends into your heart, forthwith he talks to you of righteousness, purity,
chastity, contentment, and of every righteous deed and glorious virtue. When
all these ascend into your heart, know that the angel of righteousness is with
you. These are the deeds of the
angel of righteousness. Trust him, then, and his works. Look now at the works
of the angel of iniquity. First, he is wrathful, and bitter, and foolish, and
his works are evil, and ruin the servants of God. When, then, he ascends into
your heart, know him by his works." And I said to him, "How, sir, I
shall perceive him, I donor know." "Hear and understand" said
he. "When anger comes upon you, or harshness, know that he is in you; and
you will know this to be the case also, when you are attacked by a longing
after many transactions, and the richest delicacies, and drunken revels, and
divers luxuries, and things improper, and by a hankering after women, and by
overreaching, and pride,
and
blustering, and by whatever is like to these. When these ascend into your
heart, know that the angel of iniquity is in you. Now that you know his works,
depart from him, and in no respect trust him, because his deeds are evil, and
unprofitable to the servants of God. These, then, are the actions of both angels.
Understand them, and trust the angel of righteousness; but depart from the
angel of iniquity, because his instruction is bad in every deed. For though a
man be most faithful, and the thought of this angel ascend into his heart, that
man or woman must sin. On the other hand, be a man or woman ever so bad, yet,
if the works of the angel of righteousness ascend into his or her heart, he or
she must do something good. You see, therefore, that it is good to follow the angel
of righteousness, but to bid farewell to the angel of iniquity. "This
commandment exhibits the deeds of faith, that you may trust the works of the
angel of righteousness, and doing them you may live to God. But believe the
works of the
angel of iniquity are hard. If you refuse to do them, you will live to
God."
Seventh Commandment
ON FEARING GOD, AND NOT FEARING
THE DEVIL.
"Fear,"
said he, "the Lord, and keep His commandments. For if you keep the
commandments
of God, you will be powerful in every action, and every one of your actions
will be incomparable. For, fearing the Lord, you will do all things well. This
is the fear which you ought to have, that you may be saved. But fear not the
devil; for, fearing the Lord, you will have dominion over the devil, for there
is no power in him. But he in whom there is no power ought on no account to be
an object of fear; but He in whom there is glorious power is truly to be
feared. For every one that has power ought to be feared; but he who has not
power is despised by all. Fear, therefore, the deeds of the devil, since they
are wicked. For, fearing the Lord, you will not do these deeds, but will
refrain from them. For fears are of two kinds: for if you do not wish to do that
which is evil, fear the Lord, and you will not do it; but, again, if you wish
to do that which is good, fear the Lord, and you will do it. Wherefore the fear
of the Lord is strong, and
great, and glorious. Fear, then, the Lord, and you will live to Him, and as
many as fear Him and keep His commandments will live to God."
"Why," said I, "sir, did you say in regard to those that keep
His commandments, that they will live to God?" "Because," says he,
"all creation fears the Lord, but all creation does not keep His
commandments. They only who fear the Lord and keep His commandments have life
with God; but as to those
who
keep not His commandments, there is no life in them."
Eighth Commandment
WE OUGHT TO SHUN THAT WHICH IS
EVIL, AND DO THAT WHICH IS GOOD.
"I
told you," said he, "that the creatures of God are double, for
restraint also is double; for in some cases restraint has to be exercised in
others there is no need of restraint." "Make known to me, sir,"
say I, "in what cases restraint has to be exercised, and in what cases it has
not." "Restrain yourself in regard to evil, and do it not; but
exercise no restraint in regard to good, but do it. For if you exercise
restraint in the doing of good, you will commit a great sin; but if you exercise
restraint, so as not to do that which is evil, you are practising great
righteousness. Restrain yourself, therefore, from all iniquity, and do that
which is good." "What, sir," say I, "are the evil deeds
from which we must restrain ourselves?"
"Hear," says he: "from adultery and fornication, from unlawful
revelling, from wicked luxury, from indulgence in many kinds of food and the
extravagance of riches, and from boastfulness, and haughtiness, and insolence,
and lies, and backbiting, and hypocrisy, from the remembrance of wrong, and from
all slander. These are the deeds that are most wicked in the life of men. From all
these deeds, therefore, the servant of God must restrain himself. For he who
does not restrain himself from these, cannot live to God. Listen, then, to the
deeds that accompany these." "Are there, sir," said I, "any
other evil deeds?" "There are," says he; "and many of them,
too, from which the servant of God must restrain himself--theft, lying,
robbery, false witness, overreaching, wicked lust, deceit, vainglory,
boastfulness, and all other vices like to these." "Do you not think
that these are really wicked?" "Exceedingly wicked in the servants of
God. From all of these the servant of God must restrain himself. Restrain yourself,
then, from all these, that you may live to God, and you will be enrolled
amongst those who restrain themselves in regard to these matters. These, then,
are the things from which you must restrain yourself. "But listen,"
says he, "to the things in regard to which you have not to exercise
selfrestraint, but which you ought to do. Restrain not yourself in regard to
that which is good, but do it." "And tell me, sir," say I,
"the nature of the good deeds, that I may walk in them and wait on them,
so that doing them I can be saved." "Listen," says he, "to
the good deeds which you ought to do, and in regard to which there is no
self-restraint requisite. First of all there is faith, then fear of the Lord,
love, concord, words of righteousness, truth, patience. Than these, nothing is
better in the life of men. If any one attend to these, and restrain himself not
from them, blessed is he in his life. Then there are the following attendant on
these: helping widows, looking after orphans and the needy, rescuing the servants
of God from necessities, the being hospitable--for in hospitality good-doing finds
a field--never opposing any one, the being quiet, having fewer needs than all
men, reverencing the aged, practising righteousness, watching the brotherhood,
bearing insolence, being long-suffering,
encouraging those who are sick in soul, not casting those who have fallen into
sin from the faith, but turning them back and restoring them to peace of mind,
admonishing sinners, not oppressing debtors and the needy, and if there are any
other actions like these. Do these seem to you good?" says he. "For
what, sir," say I, "is better than these?" "Walk then in
them," says he, "and restrain not yourself from
them, and you will live to God. Keep, therefore, this commandment. If you do
good, and restrain not yourself from it, you will live to God. All who act thus
will live to God. And, again, if you refuse to do evil, and restrain yourself
from it, you will live to God. And all will live to God who keep these
commandments, and walk in them."
Ninth Commandment
PRAYER MUST BE MADE TO GOD WITHOUT
CEASING AND WITH UNWAVERING CONFIDENCE.
He
says to me, "Put away doubting from you and do not hesitate to ask of the
Lord, saying to yourself, 'How can I ask of the Lord and receive from Him,
seeing I have sinned so much against Him?' Do not thus reason with yourself,
but with all your heart turn to the Lord and ask of Him without doubting, and
you will know the multitude of His tender mercies; that He will never leave
you, but fulfil the request of your soul. For He is not like men, who remember
evils done against them; but He Himself remembers not evils, and has compassion
on His own creature, Cleanse, therefore, your heart from all
the vanities of this world, and from the words already mentioned, and ask of
the Lord and you will receive all, and in none of your requests will you be
denied which you make to the Lord without doubting. But if you doubt in your
heart, you will receive none of your requests. For those who doubt regarding
God are double-souled, and obtain not one of their requests. But those who are
perfect in faith ask everything, trusting in the Lord; and they obtain, because
they ask nothing doubting, and not being double-souled. For every double-souled
man, even if he repent, will with difficulty be saved. Cleanse your heart,
therefore, from all doubt, and put on faith, because it is strong, and trust
God that
you will obtain from Him all that you ask. And if at any time, after you have
asked of the Lord, you are slower in obtaining your request [than you
expected], do not doubt because you have not soon obtained the request of your
soul; for invariably it is on account of some temptation or some sin of which
you are ignorant that you are slower in obtaining your request. Wherefore do
not cease to make the request of your soul, and
you will obtain it. But if you grow weary and waver in your request,
blame yourself, and not
Him who does not give to you. Consider this doubting state of mind, for it is
wicked and senseless, and turns many away entirely from the faith, even though
they be very strong. For this doubting is the daughter of the devil, and acts
exceedingly wickedly to the servants of God. Despise, then, doubting, and gain
the mastery over it in everything; clothing yourself with faith, which is
strong and powerful. For faith promises all things, perfects all things; but
doubt having no thorough faith in itself, fails in every work which it
undertakes. You see, then," says he, "that, faith is from above--from
the Lord -- and has great power; but doubt is an earthly spirit, coming from
the devil, and has no power. Serve, then, that which has power, namely faith,
and keep away from doubt, which has no power, and you will live to God. And all
will live to God whose minds have been set on these things." Second Book:
Commandments
Tenth Commandment
OF GRIEF, AND NOT GRIEVING THE
SPIRIT OF GOD WHICH IS IN US.
CHAPTER I.
"Remove
from you," says he, "grief; for she is the sister of doubt and anger."
"How, sir," say I, "is she the sister of these? for anger,
doubt, and grief seem to be quite different from each other." "You
are senseless, O man. Do you not perceive that grief is more wicked than all
the spirits, and most terrible to the servants of God, and more than all other
spirits destroys man and crushes out the Holy Spirit, and yet, on the other
hand, she saves him?" "I am senseless, sir," say I, "and do
not understand these parables. For how she can crush out, and on the other hand
save, I do not perceive." "Listen," says he. "Those who
have never searched for the truth, nor investigated the nature of the Divinity,
but have simply believed, when they devote themselves to and become mixed up
with business, and wealth, and heathen friendships, and many other actions of
this world, do not perceive the parables of Divinity; for their minds are
darkened by these actions, and they are corrupted and become dried up. Even as
beautiful vines, when they are neglected, are withered up by thorns and divers
plants, so men who have believed, and have afterwards fallen away into many of
those actions above mentioned, go astray in their minds, and lose all
understanding in regard to righteousness; for if they hear of
righteousness,
their minds are occupied with their business, and
they give no heed at all. Those, on the other hand, who have the fear of God,
and search after Godhead and truth, and have their hearts turned to the Lord,
quickly perceive and understand what is said to them, because they have the fear
of the Lord in them. For where the Lord dwells, there is much understanding.
Cleave, then, to the Lord, and you will understand and perceive all things.
CHAPTER II.
"Hear,
then," says he, "foolish man, how grief crushes out the Holy Spirit,
and on the other hand saves. When the doubting man attempts any deed, and fails
in it on account of his doubt, this grief enters into the man, and grieves the
Holy Spirit, and crushes him out. Then, on the other hand, when anger attaches
itself to a man in regard to any matter, and he is embittered, then grief
enters into the heart of the man who was irritated, and he is grieved at the
deed which he did, and repents that he has wrought a wicked deed. This grief,
then, appears to be accompanied by salvation, because the man, after having
done a wicked deed, repented. Both actions grieve the Spirit: doubt, because it
did not accomplish its object; and anger grieves the Spirit, because it did
what was wicked. Both these are grievous to the Holy Spirit--doubt and anger.
Wherefore remove grief from you, and crush not the Holy Spirit which dwells in
you, lest he entreat God against
you, and he withdraw from you. For the Spirit of God which has been granted to us
to dwell in this body does not endure grief nor straitness. Wherefore put on cheerfulness,
which always is agreeable and acceptable to God, and rejoice in it. For every
cheerful man does what is good, and minds what is good, and despises grief; but
the sorrowful man always acts wickedly. First, he acts wickedly because he
grieves the Holy Spirit, which was given to man a cheerful Spirit. Secondly,
Grieving the Holy Spirit, he works iniquity, neither entreating the Lord nor
confessing to Him. For the entreaty of the sorrowful man has no power to ascend
to the altar of God." "Why," say I, "does
not the entreaty of the grieved man ascend to the altar?"
"Because," says he, "grief sits in his heart. Grief, then,
mingled with his entreaty, does not permit the entreaty to ascend pure to the
altar of God. For as vinegar and wine, when mixed in the same vessel, do not
give the same pleasure [as wine alone gives], so grief mixed. with the Holy Spirit
does not produce the same entreaty [as would be produced by the Holy Spirit alone].
Cleanse yourself from this wicked grief, and you will live to God; and all will
live to God who drive away grief from them, and put on all cheerfulness."
Eleventh Commandment
THE SPIRIT AND PROPHETS TO BE
TRIED BY THEIR WORKS; ALSO OF THE TWO KINDS OF SPIRIT.
He
pointed out to me some men sitting on a seat, and one man sitting on a chair.
And he says to me, "Do you see the persons sitting on the seat?"
"I do, sir," said I. "These," says he, "are the
faithful, and he who sits on the chair is a false prophet, ruining the minds of
the servants of God. It is the doubters, not the faithful, that he ruins. These
doubters then go to him as to a soothsayer, and inquire of him what will happen
to them; and he, the false prophet, not having the power of a Divine Spirit in
him, answers them according to their inquiries, and according to their wicked
desires, and fills their souls with expectations, according to their own
wishes. For being himself empty, he gives empty
answers
to empty inquirers; for every answer is made to the emptiness of man. Some true
words he does occasionally utter; for the devil fills him with his own spirit,
in the hope that he may be able to overcome some of the righteous. As many,
then, as are strong in the faith of the Lord, and are clothed with truth, have
no connection with such spirits, but keep away from them; but as many as are of
doubtful minds and frequently repent, betake themselves to soothsaying, even as
the heathen, and bring greater sin upon themselves by their idolatry. For he
who inquires of a false prophet in regard to any action is an idolater, and
devoid of the truth, and foolish. For no spirit given by God requires to be
asked; but such a spirit having the power of Divinity speaks all things of itself, for it proceeds from above from the
power of the Divine Spirit. But the spirit which
is asked and speaks according to the desires of men is earthly, light, and powerless,
and it is altogether silent if it is not questioned." "How then,
sir," say I, "will a man know which of them is the prophet, and which
the false prophet?" "I will tell you," says he, "about both
the prophets, and then you can try the true and the false prophet according to
my directions. Try the man who has the Divine Spirit by his life. First, he who
has the Divine Spirit proceeding from above is meek, and peaceable, and humble,
and refrains from, all iniquity and the vain desire of this world, and contents
himself with fewer wants than those of other men, and when asked he makes no
reply; nor does he speak privately, nor when man wishes the spirit to speak
does the Holy Spirit speak, but it speaks only when God wishes it to speak.
When, then, a man having the Divine Spirit comes into an assembly of righteous
men who have faith in the Divine Spirit, and this assembly of men offers up
prayer to God, then the angel of the prophetic Spirit, who is destined for him,
fills the man; and the man being filled with the Holy Spirit, speaks to the
multitude as the Lord wishes. Thus, then, will the Spirit of Divinity become
manifest. Whatever power therefore comes from the Spirit of Divinity belongs to
the Lord. Hear, then," says he, "in regard to the spirit which is
earthly, and empty, and powerless, and foolish. First, the man who seems to
have the Spirit exalts himself, and wishes to have the first seat, and is bold,
and impudent, and talkative, and lives in the midst of many luxuries
and many other delusions, and takes rewards for his prophecy; and if he does not
receive rewards, he does not prophesy. Can, then, the Divine Spirit take
rewards and prophesy? It is not possible that the prophet of God should do
this, but prophets of thischaracter are possessed by an earthly spirit. Then it
never approaches an assembly of righteous
men, but shuns them. And it associates with doubters and the vain, and prophesies
to them in a comer, and deceives them, speaking to them, according to their desires,
mere empty words: for they are empty to whom it gives its answers. For the empty
vessel, when placed along with the empty, is not Crashed, but they correspond to
each other. When, therefore, it comes into an assembly of righteous men who
have a Spirit
of Divinity, and they offer up prayer, that man is made empty, and the earthly spirit
tees from him through fear, and that man is made dumb, and is entirely crashed,
being unable to speak. For if you pack closely a storehouse with wine or oil,
and put an empty jar in the midst of the vessels of wine or oil, you will find
that jar empty as when you placed it, if you should wish to clear the
storehouse. So also the empty prophets, when they come to the spirits of the
righteous, are found [on leaving] to be such as they were when they came. This,
then, is the mode of life of both prophets. Try by his deeds and his life the
man who says that he is inspired. But as for you, trust the Spirit which comes
from God, and has power; but the spirit which is earthly and empty trust not at
all, for there is no power in it: it comes from the devil. Hear, then, the
parable which I
am
to tell you. Take a stone, and throw it to the sky, and see if you can touch
it. Or again, take a squirt of water and squirt into the sky, and see if you
can penetrate the sky." "How, sir," say I, "can these
things take place? for both of them are impossible." "As these things,"
says he, "are impossible, so also are the earthly spirits powerless and
pithless. But look, on the other hand, at the power which comes from above.
Hail is of the size of a very small grain, yet when it falls on a man's head how
much annoyance it gives him! Or, again, take the drop which falls from a
pitcher to the ground, and yet it hollows a stone. You see, then, that the
smallest things coming from above have great power when they
fall upon the earth. Thus also is the Divine Spirit, which comes from above, powerful.
Trust, then, that Spirit, but have nothing to do with the other."
Twelfth Commandment
ON THE TWOFOLD DESIRE. THE COMMANDMENTS
OF GOD CAN BE KEPT, AND BELIEVERS OUGHT NOT TO FEAR THE DEVIL.
CHAPTER I.
He
says to me, "Put away from you all wicked desire, and clothe yourself with
good and chaste desire; for clothed with this desire you will hate wicked
desire, and will rein yourself in even as you wish. For wicked desire is wild,
and is with difficulty tamed. For it is terrible, and consumes men exceedingly
by its wildness. Especially is the servant of God terribly consumed by it, if
he falls into it and is devoid of understanding. Moreover, it consumes all such
as have not on them the garment of good desire, but are entangled and mixed up
with this world. These it delivers up to death." "What then,
sir," say I, "are the deeds of wicked desire which deliver men over
to death? Make them known to me, and
I will refrain from them." "Listen, then, to the works in which evil
desire slays the servants of God."
CHAPTER II.
"Foremost
of all is the desire after another's wife or husband, and after extravagance, and
many useless dainties and drinks, and many other foolish luxuries; for all
luxury is foolish and empty in the servants of God. These, then, are the evil
desires which slay the servants of God. For this evil desire is the daughter of
the devil. You must refrain from evil desires, that by refraining ye may live
to God. But as many as are mastered by them, and do not resist them, will
perish at last, for these desires are fatal. Put you on, then, the desire of
righteousness; and arming yourself with the fear of the Lord, 29 resist them.
For the fear of the Lord dwells in good desire. But if evil desire see you armed
with the fear of God, and resisting it, it will flee far from you, and it will
no longer appear to you, for it fears your armour. Go, then, garlanded with the
crown which
you have gained for victory over it, to the desire of righteousness, and,
delivering up to it the prize which you have received, serve it even as it wishes.
If you serve good desire, and be subject to it, you will gain the mastery over
evil desire, and make it subject to you even as you wish."
CHAPTER III.
"I
should like to how," say I, "in what way I ought to serve good
desire." "Hear," says he: "You will practise righteousness
and virtue, truth and the fear of the Lord, faith and meekness, and whatsoever
excellences are like to these. Practising these, you will be a well-pleasing
servant of God, and you will live to Him; and every one who shall serve good
desire, shall live to God." He concluded the twelve commandments, and said
to me, "You have now these commandments.
Walk in them, and exhort your hearers that their repentance may be pure during
the remainder of their life. Fulfil carefully this ministry which I now entrust
to you, and you will accomplish much. For you will find favour among those who
are to repent, and they will give heed to your words; for I will be with you,
and will compel them to obey you." I say to him, "Sir, these
commandments are great, and good, and glorious, and fitted to gladden the heart
of the man who can perform them. But I do not know if these commandments can be
kept by man, because they are exceeding hard." He answered and said to me,
"If you lay it down as certain that they can be kept, then
you will easily keep them, and they will not be hard. But if you come to
imagine that they cannot be kept by man, then you will not keep them. Now I say
to you, If you do not keep them, but neglect them, you will not be saved, nor
your children, nor your house, since you have already determined for yourself
that these commandments cannot be kept by man."
CHAPTER IV.
These
things he said to me in tones of the deepest anger, so that I was confounded
and exceedingly afraid of him, for his figure was altered so that a man could
not endure his anger. But seeing me altogether agitated and confused, he began
to speak to me in more gentle tones; and he said: "O feel, senseless and
doubting, do you not perceive how great is the glory of God, and how strong and
marvellous, in that He created the world for the sake of man, and subjected all
creation to him, and gave him power to rule over everything under heaven? If,
then, man is lord of the creatures of God, and rules over all, is he not able
to be lord also of these commandments? For," says he, "the man who has
the Lord in his heart can also be lord of all, and of every one of these commandments.
But to those who have the Lord only on their lips, but their hearts hardened,
and who are far from the Lord, the commandments are hard and difficult. Put,
therefore, ye who are empty and fickle in yoUr faith, the Lord in your heart,
and ye will know that there is nothing easier or sweeter, or more manageable,
than these commandments. Return, ye who walk in the commandments of the devil,
in hard, and bitter, and wild licentiousness, and fear not the devil; for there
is no power in him against you, for I will be with you, the angel of repentance,
who am lord over him. The devil has fear only, but his fear has no strength.
Fear him not, then, and he will flee from you."
CHAPTER V.
I
say to him, "Sir, listen to me for a moment." "Say what you wish,"
says he. "Man, sir," say I, "is eager to keep the commandments
of God, and there is no one who does not ask of
the Lord that strength may be given him for these commandments, and that
he may be subject to them; but the devil is hard, and holds sway over
them." "He cannot," says he, "hold sway over the servants
of God, who with all their heart place their hopes in Him. The devil can
wrestle against these, overthrow them he cannot. If, then, ye resist him, he will
be conquered, and flee in disgrace from you. As many, therefore," says he,
"as are empty,
fear the devil, as possessing power. When a man has filled very suitable jars
with good wine, and a few among those jars are left empty, then he comes to the
jars, and does not look at the full jars, for he knows that they are full; but
he looks at the empty, being afraid lest they have become sour. For empty jars
quickly become sour, and the goodness of the wine is gone. So also the devil
goes to all 30 the servants of God to try them. As many, then, as are full in
the faith, resist him strongly, and he withdraws from them, having no way by
which he might enter them. He goes, then, to the empty, and finding a way of
entrance, into them, he produces in them whatever he wishes, and they become
his servants.
CHAPTER VI.
"But
I, the angel of repentance, say to you Fear not the devil; for I was
sent," says he, "to be with you who repent with all your heart, and
to make you strong in faith. Trust God, then, ye who on account of your sins
have despaired of life, and who add to your sins and weigh down your life; for
if ye return to the Lord with all your heart, and practise righteousness the
rest of your days, and serve Him according to His will, He will heal your
former sins, and you will have power to hold sway over the works of the devil.
But as to the threats of the devil, fear them not at all, for he is powerless
as the sinews of a dead man. Give ear to me, then, and fear Him who has all
power, both to save and destroy, and keep His commandments, and ye will live to
God." I say to him, "Sir, I am now
made strong in all the ordinances of the Lord, because you are with me; and I
know that you will crush all the power of the devil, and we shall have rule
over him, and shall prevail against all his works. And I hope, sir, to be able
to keep all these commandments which you
have enjoined upon me, the Lord strengthening me." "You will keep
them," says he, "if your heart be pure towards the Lord; and all will
keep them who cleanse their hearts from the vain desires of this world, and
they will live to God."
First Similitude
AS IN THIS WORLD WE HAVE NO ABIDING CITY, WE OUGHT TO SEEK ONE TO COME.
HE
says to me, "You know that you who are the servants of God dwell in a
strange land; for your city is far away from this one. If, then," he continues,
"you know your city in which you are to dwell, why do ye here provide lands,
and make expensive preparations, and accumulate dwellings and useless
buildings? He who makes such preparations for this city cannot return again to
his own. Oh foolish, and unstable, and miserable man! Dost thou not understand
that all these things belong to another, and are under the power of another?
for the lord of this city will say, 'I do not wish thee to dwell in my city;
but depart from this city, because thou obeyest not my laws.' Thou, therefore,
although having fields and houses, and many other things, when cast out by him,
what wilt thou do with thy land, and house, and other possessions which thou
hast gathered
to thyself? For the lord of this country justly says to thee, 'Either obey my
laws or depart from my dominion.' What, then, dost thou intend to do, having a
law in thine own city, on account of thy lands, and the rest of thy possessions?
Thou shalt altogether deny thy law, and walk according to the law of this city.
See lest it be to thy hurt to deny thy law; for if thou shalt desire to return
to thy city, thou wilt not be received, because thou hast denied the law of thy
city, but wilt be excluded from it. Have a care, therefore: as one living in a
foreign land, make no further preparations for thyself than such merely as may
be sufficient; and be ready, when the master of this city shall come to cast thee
out for disobeying his law, to leave his city, and to depart to thine own, and
to obey thine own law without being exposed to annoyance, but in great joy.
Have a care, then, ye who serve the Lord, and have Him in your heart, that ye
work the works of God, remembering His commandments and promises which He
promised, and believe that He will bring them to pass if His commandments be
observed. Instead of lands, therefore, buy afflicted souls, according as each
one is able, and visit s widows and orphans, and do not overlook them; and
spend your wealth and all your preparations, which ye received from the Lord,
upon such lands and houses. For to this end did the Master make you rich, that
you might perform these services unto Him; and it is much better to purchase
such lands, and possessions, and houses, as you will find in your own city,
when you come to reside in it. This is a noble and sacred expenditure, attended
neither with sorrow nor fear, but with joy. Do not practise the expenditure of
the
heathen,
for it is injurious to you who are the servants of God; but practise an
expenditure
of your own, in which ye can rejoice; and do not corrupt nor touch what is another's
nor covet it, for it is an evil thing to covet the goods of other men; but work
thine own work, and thou wilt be saved."
Second Similitude
AS THE VINE IS SUPPORTED BY THE ELM,
SO IS THE RICH MAN HELPER BY THE
PRAYER OF THE POOR.
AS
I was walking in the field, and observing an elm and vine, and determining in
my own, mind respecting them and their fruits, the Shepherd appears to me, and
says, "What is it that you are thinking about the elm and vine?"
"I am considering," I reply, "that they become each other
exceedingly well." "These two trees," he continues, "are intended
as an example for the servants of God." "I would like to know,"
said I, "the example which these trees you say, are intended to
teach." "Do you see," he says, "the elm and the vine?"
"I see them sir," I replied. "This vine," he continued,
"produces fruit, and the elm is an unfruitful tree; but unless the vine be
trained upon the elm, it cannot bear much
fruit when extended at length upon the ground; and the fruit which it does bear
is rotten, because the plant is not suspended upon the elm. When, therefore,
the vine is cast upon the elm, it yields fruit both, from itself and from the
elm. You see, moreover, that the elm also produces much fruit, not less than
the vine, but even more; because," he continued, "the vine, when
suspended upon the elm, yields much fruit, and good; but when thrown upon the
ground, what it produces is small and rotten. This similitude, therefore, is
for the servants of God--for the poor man and for the rich." "How so,
sir?" said I; "explain the matter to me." "Listen," he
said: "The rich man has much wealth, but is poor in matters relating to
the Lord, because he is distracted about his riches; and he
offers
very few confessions and intercessions to the Lord, and those which he does
offer are small and weak, and have no power above. But when the rich man
refreshes the poor, and assists him in his necessities, believing that what he
does to the poor man will be able to find its reward with God--because the poor
man is rich in intercession and confession, and his intercession has great
power with God--then the rich man helps the poor in all things without
hesitation; and the poor man, being helped by the rich, intercedes for him,
giving thanks to God for him who bestows gifts upon him. And he still continues
to interest himself zealously for the poor man, that his wants may be constantly
supplied. For he knows that the intercession of the poor man is acceptable and
influential with God. Both, accordingly, accomplish their work. The poor man
makes intercession; a work in which he is rich, which he received from the
Lord, and with
which he recompenses the master who helps him. And the rich man, in like manner,
unhesitatingly bestows upon the poor man the riches which he received from the
Lord. And this is a great work, and acceptable before God, because he
understands the object of his wealth, and has given to the poor of the gifts of
the Lord, and rightly discharged his service to Him. Among men, however, the elm
appears not to produce fruit, and they do not know nor understand that if a
drought come, the elm, which contains water, nourishes the vine l and the vine,
having an unfailing supply of water, yields double fruit both for itself and
for the elm. So also poor men interceding with the Lord on behalf of the rich,
increase their riches; and the rich, again, aiding the poor in their
necessities, satisfy their souls. Both, therefore, are partners in the
righteous work. He who does these things shall not be deserted by God, but
shall be enrolled in the books of the living. Blessed are they who have riches,
and who understand that they are from the Lord. [For they who are of that mind
will be able to do some good.]"
Third Similitude
AS IN WINTER GREEN TREES CANNOT
BE DISTINGUISHED FROM WITHERED, SO IN THIS WORLD NEITHER CAN THE JUST FROM THE
UNJUST.
He
showed me many trees having no leaves, but withered, as it seemed to me; for
all were alike. And he said to me, "Do you see those trees?" "I
see, sir," I replied, "that all are alike, and withered." He
answered me, and said, "These trees which you see are those who dwell in
this world." "Why, then, sir," I said, "are they withered,
as it were, and alike?" "Because," he said, "neither are
the righteous manifest in this life, nor sinners, but they are alike; for this
life is a winter to the righteous, and they do not manifest themselves, because
they dwell with sinners: for as in winter trees that have cast their leaves are
alike, and it is not seen which are dead and which are living, so in this world
neither
do the righteous show themselves, nor sinners, but all are alike one to another."
Fourth Similitude
AS IN SUMMER LIVING TREES ARE
DISTINGUISHED FROM WITHERED BY FRUIT AND LIVING LEAVES, SO IN THE WORLD TO COME
THE JUST DIFFER FROM THE UNJUST IN HAPPINESS.
He
showed me again many trees, some budding, and others withered. And he said to
me, "Do you see these trees?" "I see, sir," I replied,
"some putting forth buds, and others withered." "Those," he
said, "which are budding are the righteous who are to live in the world to
come; for the coming world is the summer of the righteous, but the winter of sinners.
When, therefore, the mercy of the Lord shines forth, then shall they be made manifest
who are the servants of God, and all men shall be made manifest. For as in summer
the fruits of each individual tree appear, and it is ascertained of what sort
they are, so also the fruits of the righteous shall be manifest, and all who
have been fruitful in that world shall be made known. But the heathen and sinners,
like the withered trees which you saw, will be found to be those who have been withered
and unfruitful in that world, and shall be burnt as wood, and made manifest, because
their actions were evil during their lives. For the sinners shall be consumed because
they sinned and did not repent, and the heathen shall be burned because they
knew not Him who created them. Do you therefore bear fruit, that in that summer
your fruit may be known. And refrain from much business, and you will never
sin: for they who are occupied with much business commit also many sins, being
distracted about their affairs, and not at all serving
their Lord. How, then," he continued, "can such a one ask and obtain
anything from the Lord, if he serve Him not? They who serve Him shall obtain
their requests, but they who serve Him not shall receive nothing. And in the
performance even of a single action a man can serve the Lord; for his mind will
not be perverted from the Lord, but he will serve Him, having a pure mind. If,
therefore, you do these things, you shall be able to bear fruit for the life to
come. And every one who will do these things shall bear fruit."
Fifth Similitude
OF TRUE FASTING AND ITS REWARD:
ALSO OF PURITY OF BODY.
CHAPTER
I.
While
fasting and sitting on a certain mountain, and giving thanks to the Lord for
all His dealings with me, I see the Shepherd sitting down beside me, and
saying, "Why have you come hither early in the morning?"
"Because, sir," I answered, "I have a station." "What
is a station?" he asked. "I am fasting, sir," I replied.
"What is this fasting," he continued, "which you are
observing?" "As I have been accustomed, sir," I reply, "so
I fast." "You do not know," he says, "how to fast unto the
Lord: this useless fasting which you observe to HIm is of no value."
"Why, sir," I answered, "do you say this?" "I say to you,"
he continued, "that the fasting which you think you observe is not a
fasting. But I will
teach you what is a full and acceptable fasting to the Lord. Listen," he
continued: "God does not desire such an empty fasting? For fasting to God
in this way you will do nothing for a righteous life; but offer to God a
fasting of the following kind: Do no evil in your life, and serve the Lord with
a pure heart: keep His commandments, walking in His precepts, and let no evil
desire arise in your heart; and believe in God. If you do these things, and
fear Him, and abstain from every evil thing, you will live unto God; and if you
do these things, you will keep a great fast, and one acceptable before God.
CHAPTER II.
"Hear
the similitude which I am about to narrate to you relative to fasting. A
certain man had a field and many slaves, and he planted a certain part of the
field with a vineyard, and selecting a faithful and beloved and much valued
slave, he called him to him, and said, 'Take this vineyard which I have
planted, and stake it until I come, and do nothing else to the vineyard; and
attend to this order of mine, and you shall receive your freedom from me.' And
the master of the slave departed to a foreign country. And when he was gone,
the slave took and staked the vineyard; and when he had finished the staking of
the vines, he saw that the vineyard was full of weeds. He then reflected, saying,
'I have kept this order of my master: I will dig up the rest of this vineyard,
and it will be more beautiful when dug up; and being free of weeds, it will
yield more fruit, not
being choked by them.' He took, therefore, and dug up the vineyard, and rooted
out all the weeds that were in it. And that vineyard became very beautiful and
fruitful, Having no weeds to choke it. And after a certain time the master of
the slave and of the field returned, and entered into the vineyard. And seeing
that the vines were suitably supported on stakes, and the ground, moreover, dug
up, and all the weeds rooted out, and the vines fruitful, he was greatly
pleased with the work of his slave. And calling his beloved son who was his
heir, and his friends who were his councillors, he told them what orders he had
given his slave, and what he had found performed. And they rejoiced along with
the slave at the testimony which his master bore to him. And he said to
them, 'I promised this slave freedom if he obeyed the command which I gave him;
and he has kept my command, and done besides a good work to the vineyard, and
has pleased me exceedingly. In return, therefore, for the work which he has
done, I wish to make him co-heir with my son, because, having good thoughts, he
did not neglect them, but carried them out.' With this resolution of the master
his son and friends were well pleased, viz., that the slave should be co-heir
with the son. After a few days the master made a feast, and sent to his slave
many dishes from his table. And the slave receiving the dishes that were sent
him from his master, took of them what was sufficient for himself,
and distributed the rest among his fellow-slaves. And his fellow-slaves
rejoiced to receive the dishes, and began to pray for him, that he might find
still greater favour his master for
having so treated them. His master heard all these things that were done, and
was again greatly pleased with his conduct. And the master again calling; together
his friends and his son, reported to them the slave's proceeding with regard to
the dishes which he had sent him. And they were still more satisfied that the
slave should become co-heir with his son."
CHAPTER III.
I
said to him, "Sir, I do not see the meaning of these similitudes, nor am I
able to comprehend them, unless you explain them to me." "I will
explain them all to you," he said, "and whatever I shall mention in
the course of our conversations I will show you. [Keep the commandments of the
Lord, and you will be approved, and inscribed amongstthe number of those who observe
His commands.] And if you do any good beyond what is commanded by God, you will
gain for yourself more abundant glory, and will be more
honoured by God than you would otherwise be. If, therefore, in keeping the commandments
of God, you do, in addition, these services, you will have joy if you observe
them according to my command." I said to him, "Sir, whatsoever you
enjoin upon me I will observe, for I know that you are with me." "I
will be with you," he replied, "because you have such a desire for
doing good; and I will be with all those," he added, "who have such a
desire. This fasting," he continued, "is very good, provided the commandments
of the Lord be observed. Thus, then, shall you observe the fasting which you
intend to keep. First of all, be on your guard against every evil word, and
every evil desire,
and purify your heart from all the vanities of this world. If you guard against
these things, your fasting will be perfect. And you will do also as follows.
Having fulfilled what is written, in the day on which you fast you will taste
nothing but bread and water; and having reckoned up the price of the dishes of
that day which you intended to have eaten, you will give it to a widow, or an
orphan, or to some person in want, and thus you will exhibit humility of mind,
so that he who has received benefit from your humility may fill his own soul,
and pray for you to the Lord. If you observe fasting, as I have commanded you,
your sacrifice will be acceptable to God, and this fasting will be written
down; and the service thus performed is noble, and sacred, and acceptable to
the Lord. These things, therefore, shall you thus observe with your children,
and all your house, and in observing them you will be blessed; and as many as hear
these words and observe them shall be blessed; and whatsoever they ask of the Lord
they shall receive."
CHAPTER IV.
I
prayed him much that he would explain to me the similitude of the field, and of
the master of the vineyard, and of the slave who staked the vineyard, and of the
sakes, and of the weeds that were plucked out of the vineyard, and of the son,
and of the friends who were fellow-councillors, for I knew that all these
things were a kind of parable. And he answered me, and said, "You are
exceedingly persistent with your questions. You ought not," he continued,
"to ask any questions at all; for if it is needful to explain anything, it
will be made known to you." I said to him "Sir whatsoever you show
me, and do not explain, I shall have seen to no purpose, not understanding its
meaning. In like manner, also, if you speak parables to me, and do not unfold
them, I shall have heard
your
words in vain." And he answered me again, saying, "Every one who is
the servant of God, and has his Lord in his heart, asks of Him understanding,
and receives it, and opens up every parable; and the words of the Lord become known
to him which are spoken in parables? But those who are weak and slothful in
prayer, hesitate to ask anything from the Lord; but the Lord is full of
compassion, and gives without fail to all who ask Him. But you, having been
strengthened by the holy Angel, and having obtained from Him such intercession,
and not being slothful, why do not you ask of the Lord understanding, and
receive it from Him?" I said to him, "Sir, having you with me, I am
necessitated to ask questions of you, for you show me all things, and converse
with me; but if I were to see or hear these things without you, I would then
ask the Lord to explain them."
CHAPTER V.
"I
said to you a little ago," he answered, "that you were cunning and
obstinate in asking explanations of the parables; but since you are so persistent,
I shall unfold to you the meaning of the similitudes of the field, and of all
the others that follow, that you may make them known to every one. Hear
now," he said, "and understand them. The field is this world; and the
Lord of the field is He who created, and perfected, and strengthened all
things; [and the son is the Holy Spirit; ] and the slave is the Son of God; and
the vines are this people, whom He Himself planted; and the stakes are the holy
angels of the Lord, who keep His people together; and the weeds that were
plucked out of the vineyard are the iniquities of God's servants; and the
dishes which He sent Him from His able
are the commandments which He gave His people through His Son; and the friends and
fellow-councillors are the holy angels who were first created; and the Master's
absence from home is the time that remains until His appearing." I said to
him, "Sir, all these are great, and marvellous, and glorious things. Could
I, therefore," I continued, "understand them? No, nor could any other
man, even if exceedingly wise. Moreover," I added, "explain to me
what I am about to ask you." "Say what you wish," he replied. "Why,
sir," I asked, "is the Son of God in the parable in the form of a
slave?"
CHAPTER VI.
"Hear,"
he answered: "the Son of God is not in the form of a slave, but in great
power and might." "How so, sir?" I said; "I do not
understand." "Because," he answered, "God planted the
vineyard, that is to say, He created the people, and gave them to His Son; and
the Son appointed His angels over them to keep them; and He Himself purged away
their sins, having suffered many trials and undergone many labours, for no one
is able to dig without labour and toil. He Himself, then, having purged away
the sins of the people, showed
them the paths of life by giving them the law which He received from His Father.
[You see," he said, "that He is the Lord of the people, having
received all authority from His Father. ] And why the Lord took His Son as
councillor, and the glorious angels, regarding the heirship of the slave,
listen. The holy, pre-existent Spirit, that created every creature, God made to
dwell in flesh, which He chose. This flesh, accordingly, in which the Holy Spirit
dwelt, was nobly subject to that Spirit, walking religiously and chastely, in
no respect defiling the Spirit; and accordingly, after living excellently and
purely, and after labouring and co-operating with the Spirit, and having in
everything acted vigorously and courageously along with the Holy Spirit, He
assumed
it
as a partner with it. For this conduct of the flesh pleased Him, because it was
not defiled on the earth while having the Holy Spirit. He took, therefore, as
fellowcouncillors His Son and the glorious angels, in order that this flesh,
which had been subject to the body without a fault, might have some place of
tabernacle, and that it might not appear that the reward [of its servitude had
been lost ], for the flesh that has been found without spot or defilement, in
which the Holy Spirit dwelt, [will receive a reward ]. You have now the
explanation of this parable also."
CHAPTER VII.
"I
rejoice, sir," I said, "to hear this explanation."
"Hear," again he replied: "Keep this flesh pure and stainless,
that the Spirit which inhabits it may bear witness to it, and your flesh may be
justified. See that the thought never arise in your mind that this flesh of
yours is corruptible, and you misuse it by any act of defilement. If you defile
your flesh, you will also defile the Holy Spirit; and if you defile your flesh
[and spirit], you will not live." "And if any one, sir," I said,
"has been hitherto ignorant, before he heard these words, how can such man
be saved who has defiled his flesh?" "Respecting former sins of ignorance,"
he said, "God alone is able to heal them, for to Him belongs all power.
[But be
On your guard now, and the all-powerful and compassionate God will heal former
transgressions
], if for the time to come you defile not your body nor your spirit; for both are
common, and cannot be defiled, the one without the other: keep both therefore
pure, and you will live unto God."
Sixth Similitude
OF THE TWO CLASSES OF VOLUPTUOUS
MEN, AND OF THEIR DEATH, FALLING AWAY, AND THE DURATION OF THEIR PUNISHMENT.
CHAPTER I.
Sitting
in my house, and glorifying the Lord for all that I had seen, and reflecting on
the commandments, that they are excellent, and powerful, and glorious, and able
to save a man's soul, I said within myself, "I shall be blessed if I walk
in these commandments, and every one who walks in them will be blessed."
While I was saying these words to myself, I suddenly see him sitting beside me,
and hear him thus speak: "Why are you in doubt about the commandments
which I gave you? They are excellent: have no doubt about them
at all, but put on faith in the Lord, and you will walk in them, for I will
strengthen you in them. These commandments are beneficial to those who intend
to repent: for if they do not walk in them, their repentance is in vain You,
therefore, who repent cast away the wickedness of this world which wears you
out; and by putting on all the virtues of a holy life, you will be able to keep
these commandments, and will no longer add to the number of your sins. Walk,
therefore, in these commandments of mine, and you will live unto God. All these
things have been spoken to you by me." And after he had uttered these
words, he said to me, "Let us go into the fields, and I will show you the shepherds
of the flocks." "Let us go, sir," I replied. And we came to a
certain plain, and he showed me a young man, a shepherd, clothed in a suit of
garments of a yellow colour: and he was herding very many sheep, and these
sheep were feeding luxuriously, as it were, and riotously, and merrily skipping
hither and thither. The shepherd himself was merry, because of his flock; and
the appearance of the shepherd was joyous, and he was running about amongst his
flock. [And other sheep I saw rioting and luxuriating in one place, but not,
however, leaping about. ]
CHAPTER II
And
he said to me, "Do you see this shepherd?" "I see him, sir,"
I said. "This," he answered, "is the angel of luxury and deceit:
he wears out the souls of the servants of God, and perverts them from the
truth, deceiving them with wicked desires, through which they will perish; for
they forget the commandments of the living God, and walk in deceits and
empty luxuries; and they are ruined by the angel, some being brought to death, others
to corruption:" I said to him, "Sir, I do not know the meaning of
these words, 'to death, and to corruption.'" "Listen," he said.
"The sheep which you saw merry and leaping about, are those which have tom
themselves away from God for ever, and have delivered themselves over to
luxuries and deceits [of this world. Among them there is no return to life
through repentance, because they have added to their other sins, and blasphemed
the name of the Lord. Such men therefore, are appointed unto death. And the
sheep which you saw not leaping, but feeding in one place, are they who have
delivered themselves over to luxury and deceit], but have committed no
blasphemy against
the Lord. These have been perverted from the truth: among them there is the hope
of repentance, by which it is possible to live. Corruption, then, has a hope of
a kind of renewal, but death has everlasting ruin." Again I went forward a
little way, and he showed me a tall shepherd, somewhat savage in his
appearance, clothed in a white goatskin, and having a wallet on his shoulders,
and a very hard staff with branches, and a large whip. And he had a very sour
look, so that I was afraid of him, so forbidding was his
aspect. This shepherd, accordingly, was receiving the sheep from the young shepherd,
those, viz., that were rioting and luxuriating, but not leaping; and he cast them
into a precipitous place, full of this ties and thorns, so that it was
impossible to extricate the sheep from the thorns and thistles; but they were
completely entangled amongst them. These, accordingly, thus entangled, pastured
amongst the thorns and thistles, and were exceedingly miserable, being beaten
by him; and he drove them hither and thither, and gave them no rest; and,
altogether, these sheep were in a wretched plight.
CHAPTER III.
Seeing
them, therefore, so beaten and so badly used, I was grieved for them, because they
were so tormented, and had no rest at all. And I said to the Shepherd who
talked with me, "Sir, who is this shepherd, who is so pitiless and severe,
and so completely devoid of compassion for these sheep?" "This,"
he replied, "is the angel of punishment; and he belongs to the just
angels, and is
appointed
to punish. He accordingly takes those who wander away from God, and who have
walked in the desires and deceits of this world, and chastises them as they
deserve with terrible and diverse punishments." "I would know, sir,"
I said, "Of what nature are these diverse tortures and punishments?"
"Hear," he said, "the various tortures and punishments. The
tortures are such as occur during life. For some are punished with losses,
others with want, others with sicknesses of various kinds, and others with all kinds
of disOrder and confusion; others are insulted by unworthy persons, and exposed
to suffering in many other ways: for many, becoming unstable in their plans,
try many
things,
and none of them at all succeed, and they say they are not prosperous in their undertakings;
and it does not occur to their minds that they have done evil deeds, but they
blame the Lord. When, therefore, they have been afflicted with all kinds of affliction,
then are they delivered unto me for good training, and they are made strong in the
faith of the Lord; and for the rest of the days of their life they are subject
to the Lord with pure hearts, and are successful in all their undertakings,
obtaining from the Lord everything they ask; and then they glorify the Lord, that
they were delivered to me, and no longer suffer any evil."
CHAPTER IV.
I
said to him, "Sir, explain this also to me." "What is it you ask?"
he said. "Whether, sir," I continued, "they who indulge in
luxury, and who are deceived, are tortured for the same period of time that
they have indulged in luxury and deceit?" He said to me, "They are
tortured in the same manner." ["They are tormented much less,
sir," I replied;] "for those who are so luxurious and who forget God
ought to be tortured seven-fold." He said to me "You are foolish, and
do not understand the power of torment." "Why, sir," I said,
"if I had understood it, I would not have asked you to show me."
"Hear," he said, "the power
of both. The time of luxury and deceit is one hour; but the hour of torment is equivalent
to thirty days. If, accordingly, a man indulge in luxury for one day, and be deceived
and be tortured for one day, the day of his torture is equivalent to a whole year.
For all the days of luxury, therefore, there are as many years of torture to be
undergone. You see, then," he continued, "that the time of luxury and
deceit is very short, but that of punishment and torture long."
CHAPTER V.
"Still,"
I said, "I do not quite understand about the time of deceit, and luxury,
and torture; explain it to me more clearly." He answered, and said to me,
"Your folly is persistent; and you do not wish to purify your heart, and
serve God. Have a care," he added, "lest the time be fulfilled, and
you be found foolish. Hear now," he added, "as you desire, that you may
understand these things. He who indulges in luxury, and is deceived for one
day, and who does what he wishes, is clothed with much foolishness, and does
not understand the act which he does until the morrow; for he forgets what he
did the day before. For luxury and deceit have no memories, on account of the
folly with which they are clothed; but when punishment and torture cleave to a
man for one day, he is
punished
and tortured for a year; for punishment and torture have powerful memories. While
tortured and punished, therefore, for a whole year, he remembers at last a his luxury
and deceit, and knows that an their account he suffers evil. Every man,
therefore, who
is luxurious and deceived is thus tormented, because, although having life,
they have given themselves over to death." "What kinds of luxury,
sir," I asked, "are hurtful?" "Every act of a man which he
performs with pleasure," he replied, "is an act of luxury; for the
sharp-tempered man, when gratifying his tendency, indulges in luxury; and the adulterer,
and the drunkard, and the back-biter, and the liar, and the covetous man, and the
thief, and he who does things like these, gratifies his peculiar propensity,
and in so doing indulges in luxury. All these acts of luxury are hurtful to the
servants of God. On account of these deceits, therefore, do they suffer, who
are punished and tortured. And there are also acts of luxury which save men;
for many who do good indulge in luxury, being carried away by their own
pleasure: this luxury, however, is beneficial to the servants
of God, and gains life for such a man; but the injurious acts of luxury before enumerated
bring tortures and punishment upon them; and if they continue in them and do
not repent, they bring death upon themselves."
Seventh Similitude
THEY WHO REPENT MUST BRING FORTH
FRUITS WORTHY OF REPENTANCE.
After
a few days I saw him in the same plain where I had also. seen the shepherds;
and he said to me, "What do you wish with me?" I said to him,
"Sir, that you would order the shepherd who punishes to depart out of my
house, because he afflicts me exceedingly." "It is necessary,"
he replied, "that you be afflicted; for thus," he continued,
"did the glorious angel command concerning you, as he wishes you to be
tried." "What have I done which is so bad, sir," I replied,
"that I should be delivered over to this angel?" "Listen,"
he said: "Your sins are many, but not so great as to require that you be
delivered over to this angel; but your household has committed great iniquities
and sins, and the
glorious
angel has been incensed at them on account of their deeds; and for this reason he
commanded you to be afflicted for a certain time, that they also might repent,
and purify themselves from every desire of this world. When, therefore, they repent and are purified, then the angel
of punishment will depart." I said to him, "Sir, if they have done such
things as to incense the glorious angel against them, yet what have I
done?" He replied, "They cannot be afflicted at all, unless you, the
head of the house, be afflicted: for when you are afflicted, of necessity they
also suffer affliction; but if you are in comfort, they can feel no
affliction." "Well,
sir," I said, "they have repented with their whole heart."
"I know, too," he answered,
"that they have repented with their whole heart: do you think, however,
that the sins of those who repent are remitted? Not altogether, but he who
repents must torture his own soul, and be exceedingly humble in all his
conduct, and be afflicted with many kinds of affliction; and if he endure the
afflictions that come upon him, He whocreated
all things, and endued them with power, will assuredly have compassion, and will
heal him; and this will He do when He sees the heart of every penitent pure
from every evil thing: and it is profitable for you and for your house to
suffer affliction now. But why should I say much to you? You must be afflicted,
as that angel of the Lord commanded who delivered you to me. And for this give
thanks to the Lord, because He has deemed you worthy of showing you beforehand
this affliction, that, knowing it before it comes, you may be able to bear it
with courage." I said to him, "Sir, be thou with me, and I will be
able to bear all affliction." "I will be with you," he said,
"and I will ask the
angel of punishment to afflict you more lightly; nevertheless, you will be
afflicted for a little time, and again you will be re-established in your
house. Only continue humble, and serve the Lord in all purity of heart, you and
your children, and your house, and walk in my commands which I enjoin upon you,
and your repentance will be deep and pure; and if you observe these things with
your household, every affliction will depart from you. And affliction," he
added, "will depart from all who walk in these my commandment
Eighth Similitude
THE SINS OF THE ELECT AND OF THE
PENITENT ARE OF MANY KINDS, BUT ALL WILL BE REWARDED ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE
OF THEIR REPENTANCE AND GOOD WORKS.
CHAPTER I.
He
showed me a large willow tree overshadowing plains and mountains, and under the
shade of this willow had assembled all those who were called by the name of the
Lord. And a glorious angel of the Lord, who was very tall, was standing beside
the willow, having a large, pruning-knife, and he was cutting little twigs from
the willow and distributing them among the people that were overshadowed by the
willow; and the twigs which he gave them were small, about a cubit, as it were,
in length. And after they had all received the twigs, the angel laid down the pruning-knife,
and that tree was sound, as I had seen it at first. And I marvelled within myself,
saying, "How is the tree sound, after so many branches have been cut
off?" And the Shepherd said to me, "Do not be
surprised if the tree remains sound after so many branches were lopped off;
[but wait, ] and when you shall have seen everything, then it will be explained
to you what it means." The angel who had distributed the branches among
the people again asked them from them, and in the order in which they had
received them were they summoned to him, and each one of them returned his
branch. And the angel of the Lord took and looked at them. From some he
received the branches withered and motheaten; those
who returned branches in that state the angel of the Lord ordered to stand apart.
Others, again, returned them withered, but not moth-eaten; and these he ordered to
stand apart. And others returned them half-withered, and these stood apart; and
others returned their branches half-withered and having cracks in them, and
these stood apart. [And others returned their branches green and having cracks
in them; and these stood apart. ] And others returned their branches, one-half
withered and the other green; and these stood apart. And others brought their
branches two-thirds green and the remaining third withered; and these stood
apart. And others returned them twothirds withered and one-third green; and
these stood apart. And others returned theirbranches nearly all green, the part
only, the top, being withered, but they had cracks in them; and these stood
apart. And of others very little was green, but the remaining parts withered;
and these stood apart. And others came bringing their branches green, as they
had received them from the angel. And the majority of the crowd returned
branches of that kind, and with these the angel was exceedingly pleased;
and these stood apart. [And others returned their branches green and having offshoots;
and these stood apart, and with these the angel was exceedingly delighted. ] And
others returned their branches green and with offshoots, and the offshoots had some
fruit, as it were; and those men whose branches were found to be of that kind were
exceedingly joyful. And the angel was exultant because of them; and the
Shepherd also rejoiced greatly because of them.
CHAPTER
II.
And
the angel of the Lord ordered crowns to be brought; and there were brought crowns,
formed, as it were, of palms; and he crowned the men who had returned the branches
Which had offshoots and some fruit, and sent them away into the tower. And the
others also he sent into the tower, those, namely, who had returned branches
that were green and had offshoots but no fruit, having given them seals. And
all who went into the tower had the same clothing--white as snow. And those who
returned their branches green, as they had received them, he set free, giving
them clothing and seals. Now after the angel had finished these things, he said
to the Shepherd, "I am going away, and you will send these away within the
walls, according as each one is worthy to have his dwelling. And examine their
branches carefully, and so dismiss them; but examine them with care. See that
no one escape you,". he added; "and if any escape you, I
will try them at the altar." Having said these words to the Shepherd, he
departed. And after the angel had departed, the Shepherd said to me, "Let
us take the branches of all these and plant them, and see if any of them will
live." I said to him, "Sir, how can these withered branches
live?" He answered, and said, "This tree is a willow, and of a kind
that is very tenacious of life. If, therefore, the branches be planted, and
receive a little moisture, many of them will live. And now let us try, and pour
waters upon them; and if any of them live I shall rejoice with them, and if
they do not I at least will not be found neglectful."
And the Shepherd bade me call them as each one was placed. And they came, rank
by rank, and gave their branches to the Shepherd. And the Shepherd received the
branches, and planted them in rows; and after he had planted them he poured
much water upon them, so that the branches could not be seen for the water; and
after the branches had drunk it in, he said to me, "Let us go, and return
after a few days, and inspect all the branches; for He who created this tree
wishes all those to live who received branches from it. And I also hope that
the greater part of these branches which received moisture and drank of the
water will live."
CHAPTER
III.
I
said to him, "Sir, explain to me what this tree means, for I am perplexed
about it, because, after so many branches have been cut off, it continues
sound, and nothing appears to have been cut away from it. By this, now, I am
perplexed." "Listen," he said: "This great tree that casts
its shadow over plains, and mountains, and all the earth, is the law of God
that was given to the whole world; and this law is the Son of God, proclaimed
to the ends of the earth; and the people who are under its shadow are they who have
heard the proclamation, and have believed upon Him. And the great and glorious
angel Michael is he who has authority over this people, and governs them; for this
is he who gave them the law into the hearts of believers: he accordingly superintends
them to whom he gave it, to see if they have kept the same. And you see the branches
of each one, for the branches are the law You see, accordingly, many branches that
have been rendered useless, and you will know them all--those who have not kept
the law; and you will see the dwelling of each one." I said to him,
"Sir, why did he dismiss some into the tower, and leave others to
you?" "All," he answered, "who transgressed the law which
they received from him, he left under my power for repentance; but all who have
satisfied the law, and kept it, he retains under his own authority."
"Who, then," I continued, "are they who were crowned, and who go
to the tower?" "These are they who have suffered on account of the
law; but the others, and they who returned their branches green, and with
offshoots, but without fruit, are they who have been afflicted on account of
the law, but who have not suffered nor denied their law; and they who returned
their branches green as they had received them, are the venerable, and the just,
and they who have walked carefully in a pure heart, and have kept the
commandments of the Lord. And the rest you will know when I have examined
those branches which have been planted and watered."
CHAPTER IV.
And
after a few days we came to the place, and the Shepherd sat down in the angel's
place, and I stood beside him. And he said to me, "Gird yourself with
pure, undressed linen made of sackcloth;" and seeing me girded, and ready
to minister to him, "Summon," he said, "the men to whom belong the
branches that were planted, according to the order in which each one gave them
in." So I went away to the plain, and summoned them all, and they all
stood in their ranks. He said to them, "Let each one pull out his own
branch, and bring it to me." The first to give in were those who had them
withered and cut; and because they were found to be thus withered and cut, he
commanded them to stand apart. And next they gave them in who had them
withered, but not cut. And some of them gave in their branches green, and some
withered and eaten as by a moth. Those
that gave them in green, accordingly, he ordered to stand apart; and those who gave
them in dry and cut, he ordered to stand along with the first. Next they gave
them in who had them half-withered and cracked; and many of them gave them in
green and without crocks; and some green and with offshoots and fruits upon the
offshoots, such as they had who went, after being crowned, into the tower. And
some handed them inwithered and eaten, and some withered and uneaten; and some
as they were, halfwithered and cracked. And he commanded them each one to stand
apart, some towards their own rows, and others apart from them.
CHAPTER V.
Then
they gave in their branches who had them green, but cracked: all these gave
them in green, and stood in their own row. And the Shepherd was pleased with
these, because they were all changed, and had lost their cracks. And they also
gave them in who had them half-green and half-withered: of some, accordingly,
the branches were found completely green; of others, half-withered; of others,
withered and eaten; of others, green, and having offshoots. All these were sent
away, each to his own row. [Next they gave in who had them two parts green and
one-third withered. Many of them gave
the
half-withered; and others withered and rotten; and others half-withered and cracked,
and a few green. These all stood in their own row. ] And they gave them in who had
them green, but to a very slight extent withered and cracked. Of these, some
gave them in green, and others green and with offshoots. And these also went
away to their own row. Next they gave them who had a very small part green and
the other parts withered. Of these the branches were found for the most part
green and having offshoots, and fruit upon the offshoots, and others altogether
green. With these branches the Shepherd was exceedingly pleased, because they
were found in this state. And these went away, each to his own row.
CHAPTER VI.
After
the Shepherd had examined the branches of them all, he said to me, "I told
you that this tree was tenacious of life. You see," he continued,
"how many repented and were saved." "I see, sir," I
replied. "That you may behold," he added, "the great mercy
of the Lord, that it is great and
glorious, and that He has given His Spirit to those who are worthy of
repentance." "Why then, sir," I said, "did not all these
repent?" He answered, "To them whose heart He saw would become pure,
and obedient to Him, He gave power to repent with the whole heart. But to them
whose deceit and wickedness He perceived, and saw that they intended to repent
hypocritically, He did not grant repentance, lest
they
should again profane His name." I said to him, "Sir, show me now, with
respect to those who gave in the branches, of what sort they are, and their
abode, in order that they hearing it who believed, and received the seal, and
broke it, and did not keep it whole, may, on coming to a knowledge of their
deeds, repent, and receive from you. A seal, and may glorify the Lord because
He had compassion upon them, and sent you to renew their spirits."
"Listen," he said: "they whose branches were found withered and moth-eaten
are the apostates and traitors of the Church, who have blasphemed the Lord in
their sins, and have, moreover, been ashamed of the name of the Lord by which
they were
called. These, therefore, at the end were lost unto God. And you see that not a
single one of them repented, although they heard the words which I spake to
them, which I enjoined upon you. From such life departed? And they who gave
them in withered and undecayed, these also were near to them; for they were
hypocrites, and introducers of strange doctrines, and subverters of the
servants Of God, especially of those who had sinned, not allowing them to
repent, but persuading them by foolish doctrines. These, accordingly, have a
hope of repentance. And you see that many of them also have repented since I
spake to them, and they will still repent. But all who will not repent have
lost their lives; and as many of them as repented became good, and their dwelling
was appointed within the first walls; and some of them ascended even into the tower.
You see, then," he said, "that repentance involves life to sinners,
but nonrepentance death.
CHAPTER VII.
"And
as many as gave in the branches half-withered and cracked, hear also about
them. They whose branches were half-withered to the same extent are the
wavering; for they neither live, nor are they dead. And they who have them
half-withered and cracked are both waverers and slanderers, [railing against
the absent,] and never at peace with one another, but always at variance. And
yet to these also," he continued, "repentance is possible. You
see," he said, "that some of them have repented, and there is still
remaining in
them," he continued, "a hope of repentance. And as many of
them," he added, "as have repented, shall have their 42 dwelling in
the tower. And those of them who have been slower in repenting shall dwell within
the walls. And as many as do not repent at all, but abide in their deeds, shall
utterly perish. And they who gave in their branches green and cracked were always
faithful and good, though emulous of each other about the foremost places, and
about fame: now all these are foolish, in indulging in such a rivalry. Yet they
also, being naturally good, on hearing my commandments, purified themselves,
and soon repented. Their dwelling, accordingly, was in the tower. But if any one
relapse into strife, he will be east out of the tower, and will lose his life.
Life is the possession of all who keep the commandments of the Lord; but in the
commandments there is no rivalry in regard to the first places, or glory of any
kind, but in regard to patience and personal humility. Among such persons,
then, is the life of the Lord, but amongst the quarrelsome and transgressors,
death.
CHAPTER VIII.
"And
they who gave in their branches half-green and half-withered, are those who are
immersed in business, and do not cleave to the saints. For this reason, the one
half of them is living, and the other half dead. Many, accordingly, who heard
my commands repented, and those at least who repented had their dwelling in the
tower. But some of them at last fell away: these, accordingly, have not repentance,
for on account of their business they blasphemed the Lord, and denied Him. They
therefore lost their lives through the wickedness which they committed. And many
of them doubted. These still have repentance in their power, if they repent
speedily; and their abode will be in the tower. But if they are slower in
repenting, they will dwell within the walls; and if they do not repent, they
too have lost their lives. And they who gave in their branches two-thirds withered
and one-third green, are those who have denied [the Lord] in various ways.
Many, however, repented, but some of them hesitated and were in doubt. These, then,
have repentance within their reach, if they repent quickly, and do not remain
in their pleasures; but if they abide in their deeds, these, too, work to
themselves death.
CHAPTER IX.
"And
they who returned their branches two-thirds withered and one-third green, are those
that were faithful indeed; but after acquiring wealth, and becoming
distinguished amongst the heathen, they clothed themselves with great pride,
and became lofty minded, and deserted the truth, and did not cleave to the
righteous, but lived with the heathen, and this way of life became more
agreeable to them. They did not, however , depart
from God, but remained in the faith, although not working the works of faith. Many
of them accordingly repented, and their dwelling was in the tower. And others continuing
to live until the end with the heathen, and being corrupted by their vain glories,
[departed from God, serving the works and deeds of the heathen. ] These were reckoned
with the heathen. But others of them hesitated, not hoping to be saved on account
of the deeds which they had done; while others were in doubt, and caused divisions
among themselves. To those, therefore, who were in doubt on account of their deeds,
repentance is still open; but their repentance ought to be speedy, that their dwelling
may be in the tower. And to those who do not repent, but abide in their pleasures,
death is near.
CHAPTER X.
"And
they who give in their branches green, but having the tips withered and
cracked, these were always good, and faithful, and distinguished before God;
but they sinned a very little through indulging small desires, and finding little
faults with one another. But on hearing my words the greater part of them
quickly repented, and their dwelling was upon the tower. Yet some of them were
in doubt; and certain of them who were in doubt wrought greater dissension.
Among these, therefore, is hope of repentance, because they were always good;
and with difficulty will any one of them perish. And they who gave up their
branches withered, but having a very small part green, are those
who
believed only, yet continue working the works of iniquity. They never, however,
departed from God, but gladly bore His name, and joyfully received His servants
into their houses. Having accordingly heard of this repentance, they
unhesitatingly repented, and practise all virtue and righteousness; and some of
them even [suffered, being willingly put to death ]. knowing their deeds which
they had done. Of all these, therefore, the dwelling shall be in the
tower."
CHAPTER XI.
And
after he had finished the explanations of all the branches, he said to me,
"Go and tell them to everyone, that they may repent, and they shall live
unto God. Because the Lord, having had compassion on all men, has sent me to
give repentance, although some are not worthy of it on account of their works;
but the Lord, being long-suffering, desires those who were called by His Son to
be saved." I said to him, "Sir, I hope that all who have heard them
will repent; for I am persuaded that each one, on coming to a knowledge of his
own works, and fearing the Lord, will repent." He answered me, and said,
"All who with their whole heart shall purify themselves from their
wickedness before
enumerated, and shah add no more to their sins, will receive healing from the
Lord
for their former transgressions, if they do not hesitate at these commandments;
and they will live unto God. But do you walk in my commandments, and
live." Having shown me these things, and spoken all these words, he said
to me, "And the rest I will show you after a few days."
Ninth Similitude
THE GREAT MYSTERIES IN THE
BUILDING OF THE MILITANT AND TRIUMPHANT CHURCH,
CHAPTER I
After
I had written down the commandments and similitudes of the Shepherd, the angel of
repentance, he came to me and said, "I wish to explain to you what the
HOly Spirit that spake with you in the form of the Church showed you, for that
Spirit is the Son of God. For, as you were somewhat weak in the flesh, it was
not explained to you by the angel. When, however, you were strengthened by the
Spirit, and your strength was increased, so that you were able to see the angel
also, then accordingly was the building of the tower shown you by the Church.
In a noble and solemn manner did you see everything as if shown you by a
virgin; but now you see [them] through the same Spirit as if shown by an angel.
You must, however, learn everything from me with greater accuracy. For I was
sent for this purpose by the glorious angel to dwell in your house,that you
might see all things with power, entertaining no fear, even as it was
before." And
he led me away into Arcadia, to a round hill; and he placed me on the top of
the hill, and showed me a large plain, and round about the plain twelve
mountains, all having different forms. The first was black as soot; and the
second bare, without grass; and the third full of thorns and thistles; and the
fourth with grass half-withered, the upper parts of the plants green, and the
parts about the roots withered; and some of the grasses, when the sun scorched
them, became withered. And the fifth mountain had green grass, and was ragged.
And the sixth mountain was quite full of clefts, some small and others large;
and the clefts were grassy, but the plants were not very vigorous, but rather,
as it were, decayed. The seventh mountain, again, had cheerful pastures, and
the whole mountain was blooming, and every kind of cattle and birds were
feeding upon that
mountain; and the more the cattle and the birds ate, the more the grass of that
mountain flourished. And the eighth mountain was full of fountains, and every
kind of the Lord's creatures drank of the fountains of that mountain. But the
ninth mountain [had no water at all, and was wholly a desert, and had within it
deadly serpents, which destroy men. And the tenth mountain ] had very large trees,
and was completely shaded, and under the shadow of the trees sheep lay resting
and ruminating. And the eleventh mountain was very thickly wooded, and those
trees were productive, being adorned with various sons of fruits, so that any
one seeing them would desire to eat of their fruits. The twelfth mountain,
again, was wholly white, and its aspect was cheerful, and
the
mountain in itself was very beautiful.
CHAPTER II
And
in the middle of the plain he showed me a large white rock that had arisen out
of the plain. And the rock was more lofty than the mountains, rectangular in
shape, so as to be capable of containing the whole world: and that rock Was
old, having a gate cut out of it; and the cutting out of the gate seemed to me
as if recently done. And the gate glittered to such a degree under the
sunbeams, that I marvelled at the splendour of the gate; and round about the
gate were standing twelve virgins. The four who stood at the corners seemed to
me more distinguished than the others--they were all, however, distinguished--and
they were standing at the four parts of the gate; two virgins between each
part. And they were clothed with linen tunics, and gracefully girded, having
their right shoulders exposed, as if about to bear some burden. Thus they stood
ready; for they
were exceedingly cheerful and eager. After I had seen these things, I marvelled
in myself, because I was beholding great and glorious sights. And again I was
perplexed about the virgins, because, although so delicate, they were standing
courageously, as if about to carry the whole heavens. And the Shepherd said to
me "Why are you reasoning in yourself, and perplexing your mind, and
distressing yourself? for the things which you cannot understand, do not
attempt to comprehend, as if you were wise; but ask the Lord, that you may
receive understanding and know them. You cannot see what is behind you, but you
see what is before. Whatever, then, you cannot see, let alone, and do not
torment yourself about it: but what you see, make yourself master of it, and do
not waste your labour about other things; and I will explain to you everything
that I show you. Look therefore, on the things that remain."
CHAPTER III
I
saw six men come, tall, and distinguished, and similar in appearance, and they
summoned,
a multitude of men. And they who came were also tall men, and handsome, and
powerful; and the six men commanded them to build a tower above the rock. And great
was the noise of those men who came to build the tower, as they ran hither and thither
around the gate. And the virgins who stood around the gate told the men to hasten
to build the tower. Now the virgins had spread out their hands, as if about to receive
something from the men. And the six men commanded stones to ascend out of a certain
pit, and to go to the building of the tower. And there went up ten shining rectangular stones, not hewn in a quarry. And
the six men called the virgins, and bade them carry all the stones that were
intended for the building, and to pass through the gate,
and give them to the men who were about to build the tower. And the virgins put
upon one another the ten first stones which had ascended from the pit, and
carried them together, each stone by itself.
CHAPTER IV
And
as they stood together around the gate, those who seemed to be strong carried them,
and they stooped down under the corners of the stone; and the others stooped down
under the sides of the stones. And in this way they carried all the stones. And
they carried them through the gate as they were commanded, and gave them to the
men for the tower; and they took the stones and proceeded with the building.
Now the tower was built upon the great rock, and above the gate. Those ten
stones were prepared as the foundation for the building of the tower. And the
rock and gate were the support of the whole of the tower. And after the ten
stones other twenty [five] came up out of the pit, and these were fired into
the building of the tower, being carried by the virgins as before. And after
these ascended thirty-five. And these in like manner were fitted into the
tower. And after these other forty stones came up; and all these were cast into
the building of the tower, [and there were four rows in the foundation of the
tower, ] and they ceased ascending from the pit. And the builders also ceased
for a little. And again the six men commanded the multitude of the crowd to
bear stones from the mountains for the building of the tower. They were
accordingly brought from all the mountains of various, colours, and being hewn
by the men were given to the virgins; and the virgins carried them through the
gate, and gave them for the building of the tower. And when the stones of
various colours were placed in the building, they all became white alike, and
lost their different colours. And certain stones were given by the men for the building,
and these did not become shining; but as they were placed, such also were they
found to remain: for they were not given by the virgins, nor carried through
the gate. These stones, therefore, were not in keeping with the others in the
building of the tower. And the six men, seeing these unsuitable stones in the
building, commanded them to be taken away, and to be carried away down to their
own place whence they had been taken; [and being removed one by one, they were
laid aside; and] they say to the men who brought the stones, "Do not ye
bring any stones at all for the building, but lay them down beside the tower,
that the virgins may carry them through the gate, and may
give them for the building. For unless," they said, "they be carried
through the gate by the hands of the virgins, they cannot change their colours:
do not toil, therefore," they said, "to no purpose."
CHAPTER V
And
on that day the building was finished, but the tower was not completed; for
additional
building was again about to be added, and there was a cessation in the building.
And the six men commanded the builders all to withdraw a little distance, and to
rest, but enjoined the virgins not to withdraw from the tower; and it seemed to
me that
the virgins had been left to guard the tower. Now after all had withdrawn, and were
resting themselves, I said to the Shepherd, "What is the reason that the
building of the tower was not finished? "The tower," he answered,
"cannot be finished just yet, until the Lord of it come and examine the
building, in order that, if any of the stones be found to be decayed, he may
change them: for the tower is built according to his pleasure." "I would
like to know, sir," I said, "what is the meaning of the building of
this tower, and what the rock and gate, and the mountains, and the virgins
mean, and the stones that ascended from the pit, and were not hewn, but came as
they were to the building. Why, in the first place, were ten stones placed in
the foundation, then twenty-five, then thirty-five, then forty? and I wish also
to know about the stones that went to the building,
and were again taken out and returned to their own place? On all these points put
my mind at rest, sir, and explain them to me." "If you are not found
to be curious about trifles," he replied, "you shall know everything.
For after a few days [we shall come hither, and you will see the other things
that happen to this tower, and will know accurately all the similitudes."
After a few days ] we came to the place where we sat down. And he said to me,
"Let us go to the tower; for the master of the tower is coming to examine
it." And we came to the tower, and there was no one at all near it, save
the virgins only. And the Shepherd asked the virgins if perchance the master of
the tower had come; and they replied that he was about to come to examine the
building.
CHAPTER VI
And,
behold, after a little I see an array of many men coming, and in the midst of
them one man of so remarkable a size as to overtop the tower. And the six men
who had worked upon the building were with him, and many other honourable men
were around him. And the virgins who kept the tower ran forward and kissed him,
and began to walk near him around the tower. And that man examined the building
carefully, feeling every stone separately; and holding a rod in his hand, he
struck every stone in the building three times. And when he struck them, some
of them became black as soot, and some appeared as if covered with scabs, and
some cracked, and some mutilated, and some neither white nor black, and some
rough and not in keeping with the other stones, and
some having Every many] stains: such were the varieties of decayed stones that were
found in the building. He ordered all these to be taken out of the tower, and
to be laid down beside it, and other stones to be brought and put in their
stead. [And the builders asked him from what mountain he wished them to be
brought and put in their place. ] And he did not command them to be brought from
the mountains, [but he bade them be brought from a certain plain which was near
at hand. ] And the plain was dug up,
and shining rectangular stones were found, and some also of a round shape; and
all the stones which were in that plain were brought, and carried through the
gate by the virgins. And the rectangular stones were hewn, and put in place of
those that were taken away; but the rounded stones were not put into the
building, because they were hard to hew, and appeared to field slowly to the
chisel; they were deposited, however, beside the tower, as if intended to be
hewn and used in the building, for they were exceedingly brilliant.
CHAPTER VII
The
glorious man, the lord of the whole tower, having accordingly finished these alterations,
called to him the Shepherd, and delivered to him all the stones that were lying
beside the tower, that had been rejected from the building, and said to him,"
Carefully clean all these stones, and put aside such for the building of the
tower as may harmonize with the others; and those that do not, throw far away
from the tower."[Having given these orders to the Shepherd, he departed from
the tower ], with all those with whom he had come. Now the virgins were
standing around the tower, keeping it. I said again to the Shepherd, "Can
these stones return to the building of the tower, after being rejected?"
He answered me, and said, "Do you see these stones?" "I see
them, sir," I replied. "The greater part of these stones," he
said, "I will hew, and put into the building, and they will harmonize with
the others." "How, sir," I said, "can they, after being cut
all round about, fill up the same space?" He answered, "Those that
shall be found small will be thrown into the middle of the building, and those
that are larger will be placed on the outside, and they will hold them together."
Having spoken these words, he said to me, "Let us go, and after two days
let us come
and clean these stones, and cast them into the building; for all things around
the tower must be cleaned, lest the Master come suddenly? and find the places
about the tower dirty, and be displeased, and these stones be not returned for
the building of the tower, and I also shall seem to be neglectful towards the
Master." And after two days we came to the tower, and he said to me,
"Let us examine all the stones, and ascertain those which may return to
the building." I said to him, "Sir, let us examine them!"
CHAPTER VIII,
And
beginning, we first examined the black stones: And such as they had been taken
out of the building, were they found to remain; and the Shepherd ordered them
to be removed out of the tower, and to be placed apart. Next he examined those
that had scabs; and he took and hewed many of these, and commanded the virgins
to take them up
and cast them into the building. And the virgins lifted them up, and put them
in the middle of the building of the tower. And the rest he ordered to be laid
down beside the black ones; for these, too, were found to be black. He next
examined those that had cracks; and he hewed many of these, and commanded them
to be carried by the virgins to the building: and they were placed on the
outside, because they were found to be sounder than the others; but the rest,
on account of the multitude of the cracks, could not be hewn, and for this
reason, therefore, they were rejected from the building of the tower. He next
examined the chipped stones, and many amongst these were found to be black,
arid some to have great crocks. And these also he commanded to be laid down along
with those which had been rejected. But the remainder, after being cleaned andhewn,
he commanded to be placed in the building. And the virgins took them up, and fitted
them into the middle of the building of the tower, for they were somewhat weak.
He next examined those that were half white and half black, and many of them
were found to be black. And he commanded these also to be taken away along with
those which had been rejected. And the rest were all taken away by the virgins;
for, being white, they were fitted by the virgins themselves into the building.
And they were placed upon the outside, because they were found to be sound, so
as to be able to support those which were placed in the middle, for no part of
them at all was chipped. He next examined
those that were rough and hard; and a few of them were rejected because they
could not be hewn, as they were found exceedingly hard. But the rest of them
were hewn, and carried by the virgins, and fitted into the middle of the
building of the tower; for they were somewhat weak. He next examined those that
had stains; and of these a very few were black, and were thrown aside with the
others; but the greater part were found to be bright, and these were fitted by
the virgins into the building, but on account of their strength were placed on
the outside.
CHAPTER IX
He
next came to examine the white and rounded stones, and said to me, "What
are we to do with these stones? "How do I know, sir? "I replied.
"Have you no intentions regarding them? "Sir," I answered,
"I am not acquainted with this art, neither am I a stone-cutter, nor can I
tell." "Do you not see," he said, "that they are exceedingly
round? and if I wish to make them rectangular, a large portion of them must be
cut away; for some of them must of necessity be put into the building."
"If therefore," I said, "they must, why do you torment yourself,
and not at once choose for the building those which you prefer, and fit them
into it?" He selected the larger ones among them, and the shining ones,
and hewed them; and the virgins carried and fitted them into the outside parts
of the building. And the rest which remained over were carded away, and laid
down on the plain from which they were brought. They were not, however, rejected,
"because," he said, "there remains yet a little addition to be
built to the tower. And the lord of this tower wishes all the stones to be
fitted into the building, because they are exceedingly bright." And twelve
women were called, very beautiful in form, clothed in black, and with dishevelled
hair. And these women seemed to me to be fierce. But the Shepherd commanded
them to lift the stones that were rejected from the building, and to carry them
away to the mountains from which they had been brought. And they were merry,
and carded away all the stones, and put them in the place whence they had been
taken. Now after all the stones were removed, and there was no longer a single
one lying around the tower, he said, "Let us go round the tower and see,
lest there be any defect in it." So I went round the tower along with him. And the Shepherd,
seeing that the tower was beautifully built,rejoiced exceedingly; for the tower
was built in such a way, that, on seeing it, I coveted the building of it, for
it was constructed as if built of one stone, without a single joining. And the
stone seemed as if hewn out of the rock; having to me the appearance of a monolith.
CHAPTER X
And
as I walked along with him, I was full of joy, beholding so many excellent
things. And the Shepherd said to me, "Go and bring unslacked lime and
fine-baked clay, that I may fill up the forms of the stones that were taken and
thrown into the building; for everything about the tower must be smooth."
And I did as he commanded me, and brought it to him. "Assist me," he
said, "and the work will soon be finished." He accordingly filled up
the forms of the stones that were returned to the building, and commanded the
places around the tower to be swept and to be cleaned; and the virgins took
brooms and swept the place, and carried all the dirt out of the tower, and
brought water, and the ground around the tower became cheerful and very
beautiful. Says the Shepherd to me, "Everything has been cleared away; if
the lord of the tower come to inspect
it, he can have no fault to find with us." Having spoken these words, he
wished to depart; but I laid hold of him by the wallet, and began to adjure him
by the Lord that he would explain what he had showed me. He said to me, "I
must rest a little, and then I shall explain to you everything; wait for me
here until I return." I said to him, "Sir, what can I do here
alone?" "You are not alone," he said, "for these virgins
are with you." "Give me in charge to them, then," I replied. The
Shepherd called them to him, and said to them, "I entrust him to you until
I come," and went away. And I was alone with the virgins; and they were
rather merry, but were friendly to me, especially the four more distinguished
of them
CHAPTER XI
The
virgins said to me, "The Shepherd does not come here today."
"What, then," said I, "am I to do?" They replied,
"Wait for him until he comes; and if he comes he will converse with you,
and if he does not come you will remain here with us until he does come."
I said to them, "I will wait for him until it is late; and if he does not
arrive, I will go away into the house, and come back early in the morning."
And they answered and said to me, "You were entrusted to us; you cannot go
away from us." "Where, then," I said, "am I to remain?
"You will sleep with us," they replied, "as a brother, and not
as a husband: for you are our brother, and for the time to come we intend to
abide with you, for we love you exceedingly!" But I was ashamed to remain
with them. And she who seemed to be the first among them began to kiss me. [And
the others seeing her kissing me,
began also to kiss me], and to lead me round the tower, and to play with me.
And I, too, became like a young man, and began to play with them: for some of
them formed a chorus, and others danced, and others sang; and I, keeping
silence, walked with them around the tower, and was merry with them. And when it
grew late I wished to go into the house; and they would not let me, but
detained me. So I remained with them during the night, and slept beside the
tower. Now the virgins spread their linen tunics on the ground, and made me lie
down in the midst of them; and they did nothing at all but pray; and I without
ceasing prayed with them, and not less than they. And the virgins rejoiced because
I thus prayed. And I remained there with the virgins until the next dayat
the second hour. Then the Shepherd returned, and said to the virgins, "Did
you offer him any insult? "Ask him," they said. I said to him,
"Sir, I was delighted that I remained with them." "On
what," he asked, "did you sup? "I supped, sir," I replied,
"on the words of the Lord the whole night." "Did they receive
you well?" he inquired. "Yes, sir," I answered. "Now,"
he said, "what do you wish to hear first?" "I wish to hear in
the order," I said, "in which you showed me from the beginning. I beg
of you, sir, that as I shall ask you, so also you will give me the
explanation." "As you wish," he replied, "so also will I
explain
to you, and will conceal nothing at all from you."
CHAPTER XII
"First
of all, sir," I said, "explain this to me: What is the meaning of the
rock and the gate?" "This rock," he answered, "and this
gate are the Son of God." "How, sir?" I said; "the rock is
old, and the gate is new." "Listen," he said, "and understand,
O ignorant man. The Son of God is older than all His creatures, so that He was
a fellow-councillor with the Father in His work of creation: for this reason is
He old." "And why is the gate new, sir?" I said.
"Because," he answered, "He became manifest in the last days of
the dispensation: for this reason the gate was made new, that they who are to
be saved by it might enter into
the kingdom of God. You saw," he said, "that those stones which came
in through the gate were used for the building of the tower, and that those
which did not come, were again thrown back to their own place? "I saw,
sir," I replied. "In like manner," he continued, "no one
shall enter into the kingdom of God unless he receive His holy name. For if you
desire to enter into a city, and that city is surrounded by a wall, and has but
one gate, can you enter into that city save through the gate which it
has?" "Why, how can it be otherwise, sir?" I said. "If,
then, you cannot enter into the city except through its gate, so, in like
manner, a man cannot otherwise enter into the kingdom of God than by the
name of His beloved Son. You saw," he added, "the multitude who were
building the tower?" "I saw them, sir," I said.
"Those," he said, "are all glorious angels, and by them accordingly
is the Lord surrounded. And the gate is the Son of God. This is the one entrance
to the Lord. In no other way, then, shall any one enter in to Him except through
His Son. You saw," he continued, "the six men, and the tail and
glorious man in the midst of them, who walked round the tower, and rejected the
stones from the building? "I saw him, sir," I answered. "The
glorious man," he said, "is the Son of God, and those six glorious
angels are those who support Him on the right hand and on the left. None of
these glorious angels," he continued, "will enter in unto God apart
from Him.
Whosoever
does not receive His name, shall not enter into the kingdom of God."
CHAPTER XIII
"And
the tower," I asked, "what does it mean? "This tower," he
replied, "is the Church." "And these virgins, who are
they?" "They are holy spirits, and men cannot otherwise be found in
the kingdom of God unless these have put their clothing upon them: for if you receive
the name only, and do not receive from them the clothing, they are of no advantage
to you. For these virgins are the powers of the Son of God. If you bear His name
but possess not His power, it will be in vain that you bear His name. Those
stones," he continued, "which you saw rejected bore His name, but did
not put on the clothing of the virgins." "Of what nature is their
clothing, sir?" I asked. "Their very names," he said,
"are
their clothing. Everyone who bears the name of the Son of God, ought to bear
the names also of these; for the Son Himself bears the names of these virgins.
As many stones," he continued, "as you saw [come into the building of
the tower through the hands ] of these virgins, and remaining, have been
clothed with their strength. For this reason you see that the tower became of
one stone with the rock. So also they who have believed on the Lord through His
Son, and are clothed with these spirits, shall become one spirit, one body, and
the colour of their garments shall be one. And the dwelling of such as bear the
names of the virgins is in the tower." "Those stones, sir, that were rejected,"
I inquired, "on what account were they rejected? for they passed through
the gate, and were placed by the hands of the virgins in the building of the
tower." "Since you take an interest in everything," he replied,
"and examine minutely, hear about the stones that were rejected. These
all," he said, "received the name of God, and they received also the
strength of these virgins. Having received, then, these spirits, they were made
strong, and were with the servants of God; and theirs was one spirit, and one body,
and one clothing. For they were of the same mind, and wrought righteousness. After
a certain time, however, they were persuaded by the women whom you saw clothed
in black, and having their shoulders exposed and their hair dishevelled, and beautiful
in appearance. Having seen these women, they desired to have them, and clothed
themselves with their strength, and put off the strength of the virgins. These,
accordingly, were rejected from the house of God, and were given over to these
women. But
they who were not deceived by the beauty of these women remained in the house
of God. You have," he said, "the explanation of those who were
rejected."
CHAPTER XIV
"What,
then, sir," I said, "if these men, being such as they are, repent and
put away their desires after these women, and return again to the virgins, and
walk in their strength and in their works, shall they not enter into the house
of God? "They shall enter in," he said, "if they put away the
works of these women, and put on again the strength of the virgins, and walk in
their works. For on this account was there a cessation in the building, in
order that, if these repent, they may depart into the building of the tower. But
if they do not repent, then others will come in their place, and these at the
end will be cast out. For all these things I gave thanks to the Lord, because
He had pity on all that call upon His name; and sent the angel of repentance to
us who sinned against Him, and renewed
our spirit; and when we were already destroyed, and had no hope of life, He restored
us to newness of life." "Now, sir," I continued, "show me
why the tower was not built upon the ground, but upon the rock and upon the
gate." "Are you still," he said, "without sense and
understanding? "I must, sir," I said, "ask you of all things,
because I am wholly unable to understand them; for all these things are great
and glorious, and difficult for man to understand." "Listen," he
said: "the name of the Son of God is great, and cannot be contained, and
supports the whole world. If, then, the whole creation is supported by the Son
of God, what think ye of those who are called by Him, and bear the name of the
Son of God, and walk in His commandments? do you see what kind of persons
He supports? Those who bear His name with their whole heart. He Himself, accordingly,
became a foundation to them, and supports them with joy, because they are not
ashamed to bear His name."
CHAPTER XV.
"Explain
to me, sir," I said, "the names of these virgins, and of those women
who were clothed in black raiment." "Hear," he said, "the
names of the stronger virgins who stood at the comers. The first is Faith, the
second Continence, the third Power, the fourth Patience. And the others
standing in the midst of these have the following names: Simplicity, Innocence,
Purity, Cheerfulness, Truth, Understanding, Harmony, Love. He who bears these
names and that of the Son of God will be able to enter into the kingdomof God.
Hear, also," he continued, "the names of the women who had the black
garments; and of these four are stronger than the rest. The first is Unbelief,
the second: Incontinence, the third Disobedience, the fourth Deceit. And their
followers are called Sorrow, Wickedness, Wantonness, Anger, Falsehood, Folly,
Backbiting, Hatred. The servant
of God who bears these names shall see, indeed, the kingdom of God, but
shallnot enter into it." "And the stones, sir," I said,
"which were taken out of the pit and fitted into the building: what are
they?" "The first," he said, "the ten, viz, that were
placed as a foundation, are the first generation, and the twenty-five the
second generation, of righteous men; and the thirty-five are the prophets of
God and His ministers; and theforty are the apostles and teachers of the
preaching of the Son of God." "Why, then, sir," I asked,
"did the virgins carry these stones also through the gate, and give them
for the building of the tower?" "Because," he answered,
"these were the first who bore these spirits, and they never departed from
each other, neither the spirits from the men nor the
men from the spirits, but the spirits remained with them until their falling
asleep. And unless they had had these spirits with them, they would not have
been of use for the building of this tower."
CHAPTER XVI
"Explain
to me a little further, sir," I said. "What is it that you
desire?" he asked. "Why, sir," I said, "did these stones
ascend out of the pit, and be applied to the building of the tower, after
having borne these spirits?”They were obliged," he answered, "to
ascend through water in order that they might be made alive; for, unless they
laid aside the deadness of their life, they could not in any other way enter
into the kingdom of God. Accordingly, those also who fell asleep received the
seal of the Son of God. For," he continued, "before a man bears the
name of the Son of God she is dead; but when he receives the seal he lays aside
his deadness, and obtains life. The seal, then, is the water: they descend into
the water dead, and they arise alive. And to them, accordingly, was this seal
preached, and they made use of it that they might enter into the kingdom of God."
"Why, sir," I asked, "did the forty stones also ascend with them
out of the pit, having
already received the seal?" "Because," he said, "these
apostles and teachers who preached the name of the Son of God, after falling
asleep in the power and faith of the Son of God, preached it not only to those
who were asleep, but themselves also gave them the seal of the preaching.
Accordingly they descended with them into the water, and again ascended. [But
these descended alive and rose up again alive; whereas they who had previously
fallen asleep descended dead, but rose up again alive. ] By these, then, were
they quickened and made to know the name of the Son of God. For this reason
also did they ascend with them, and were fitted along with them into the building
of the tower, and, untouched by the chisel, were built in along with them. For they
slept in righteousness and in great purity, but only they had not this seal.
You have accordingly the explanation of
these also."
CHAPTER XVII
"I
understand, sir," I replied. "Now, sir," I continued, "explain
to me, with respect to the mountains, why their forms are various and diverse." "Listen,"
he said: "these mountains are the twelve tribes, which inhabit the whole
world. The Son of God, accordingly, was preached unto them by the
apostles." "But why are the mountains of various kinds, some having
one form, and others another? Explain that to me, sir."
"Listen," he answered: "these twelve tribes that inhabit the
whole world are twelve nations. And they vary in prudence and understanding. As
numerous, then, as are the varieties of the mountains which you saw, are also
the diversities of mind and understanding among these nations. And I will
explain to you the actions of each one." "First, sir," I said,
"explain this: why, when the mountains are so diverse, their stones, when
placed in the building, became one colour, shining like those also that had ascended
out of the pit." "Because," he said, "all the nations that
dwell under heaven were called by hearing and believing upon the name of the
Son of God. Having, therefore, received the seal, they had one understanding
and one mind; and their faith became one, and their love one, and with the name
they bore also the spirits of the virgins. On this account the building of the
tower became of one colour, bright as the sun. But after they had entered into
the same place, and became one body, certain of these defiled themselves, and
were expelled from the race of the righteous, and became again what they were
before, or rather worse."
CHAPTER XVIII
"How,
sir," I said, "did they become worse, after having known God?"
"He that does not know God," he answered, "and practises evil,
receives a certain chastisement for his wickedness; but he that has known God,
ought not any longer to do evil, but to do good. If, accordingly, when he ought
to do good, he do evil, does not he appear to do greater evil than he who does
not know God? For this reason, they who have not known God and do evil are
condemned to death; but they who have known God, and have seen His mighty
works, and still continue in evil, shall be chastised doubly, and shall die for
ever. In this way, then, will the Church of God be purified. For as you saw the
stones rejected
from
the tower, and delivered to the evil spirits, and cast out thence, so [they
also shall be cast out, and ] there shall be one body of the purified; as the
tower also became, as it were, of one stone after its purification. In like
manner also shall it be with the Church of God, after it has been purified, and
has rejected the wicked, and the hypocrites, andthe blasphemers, and the
waverers, and those who commit wickedness of different kinds. After these have
been cast away, the Church of God shall be one body, of one mind, of one
understanding, of one faith, of one love. And then the Son of God will be exceeding
glad, and shall rejoice over them, because He has received His people
pure." "All these things, sir," I said, "are great and
glorious. Moreover, sir," I said, "explain to me the power and the
actions of each one of the mountains, that every soul, trusting in the Lord,
and hearing it, may glorify His great, and marvellous, and glorious name."
"Hear," he said, "the diversity of the mountains and of the
twelve nations.
CHAPTER XIX
"From
the first mountain, which was black, they that believed are the following:
apostates
and blasphemers against the Lord, and betrayers of the servants of God. To these
repentance is not open; but death lies before them, and on this account also
are they black, for their race is a lawless one. And from the second mountain,
which was bare, they who believed are the following: hypocrites, and teachers
of wickedness. And these, accordingly, are like the former, not having any fruits
of righteousness; for as their mountain was destitute of fruit, so also such men
have a name indeed, but are empty of faith, and there is no fruit of truth in
them. They indeed have repentance in their power, if they repent quickly; but
if they are slow in so doing, they shall die along with the former."
"Why, sir," I said, "have these repentance, but the former not? for
their actions
are nearly the same." "On this account," he said, "have
these repentance, because they did not blaspheme their Lord, nor become betrayers
of the servants of God; but on account of their desire of possessions they became
hypocritical, and each one taught according to the desires of men that were sinners.
But they will suffer a certain punishment; and repentance is before them, because
they were not blasphemers or traitors.
CHAPTER XX
"And
from the third mountain, which had thorns and thistles, they who believed are
the following. There are some of them rich, and others immersed in much
business. The thistles are the rich, and the thorns are they who are immersed
in much business. Those, [accordingly, who are entangled in many various kinds of
business, do not ] cleave to the servants of God, but wander away, being choked
by their business transactions; and the rich cleave with difficulty to the
servants of God, fearing lest these should ask something of them. Such persons,
accordingly, shall have difficulty in entering the kingdom of God. For as it is
disagreeable to walk among thistles with naked feet, so also it is hard for such
to enter the kingdom of God. But to all these repentance, and that speedy, is
open, in order that what they did not do in former times they may make up for
in these days, and do some good, and they shall live unto God. But if they
abide in their deeds, they shall be delivered to those women, who will put them
to death.
CHAPTER XXI
"And
from the fourth mountain, which had much grass, the upper parts of the plants green,
and the parts about the roots withered, and some also scorched by the sun, they
who believed are the following: the doubtful, and they who have the Lord upon
their lips, but have Him not in their heart. On this account their foundations
are withered, and have no strength; and their words alone live, while their
works are dead. Such persons are [neither alive nor ] dead. They resemble, therefore,
the waverers: for the wavering are neither withered nor green, being neither
living nor dead. For as their blades, on seeing the sun, were withered, so also
the wavering, when they hear of affliction, on account of their fear, worship
idols, and are ashamed of the name of their Lord. Such, then, are neither alive
nor dead. But these also may yet live, if they repent quickly; and if they do
not repent, they are already delivered to the women, who take away their life.
CHAPTER XXII.
"And
from the fifth mountain, which had green grass, and was rugged, they who
believed
are the following: believers, indeed, but slow to learn, and obstinate, and pleasing
themselves, wishing to know everything, and knowing nothing at all. On account
of this obstinacy of theirs, understanding departed from them, and foolish senselessness
entered into them. And they praise themselves as having wisdom, and desire to
become teachers, although destitute of sense. On account, therefore, of this loftiness
of mind, many became vain, exalting themselves: for self-will and empty confidence
is a great demon. Of these, accordingly, many were rejected, but some repented
and believed, and subjected themselves to those that had understanding, knowing
their own foolishness. And to the rest of this class repentance is open; for
they were not wicked, but rather foolish, and without understanding. If these therefore
repent, they will live unto God; but if they do not repent, they shall have
their dwelling with the women who wrought wickedness among them
.
CHAPTER XXIII.
"And
those from the sixth mountain, which had clefts large and small, and decayed grass
in the clefts, who believed, were the following: they who occupy the small
clefts are those who bring charges against one another, and by reason of their
slanders have decayed in the faith. Many of them, however, repented; and the
rest also will repent when they hear my commandments, for their slanders are
small, and they will quickly repent. But they who occupy the large clefts are
persistent in their slanders, and vindictive in their anger against each other.
These, therefore, were thrown away from the tower, and rejected from having a
part in its building. Such persons, accordingly, shall have difficulty in
living. If our God and Lord, who rules over all things, and has power over all
His creation, does not remember evil against those who confess their sins, but
is merciful, does man, who is corruptible and full of sins, remember evil
against a fellow-man, as if he were able to destroy or to save him? I, the
angel of repentance, say unto you, As many of you as are of this way of
thinking, lay it aside, and repent, and the Lord will heal your former sins, if
you purify yourselves from this demon; but if not, you will be delivered over
to him for death.
CHAPTER XXIV.
"And
those who believed from the seventh mountain, on which the grass was green and flourishing,
and the whole of the mountain fertile, and every kind of cattle and the fowls of
heaven were feeding on the grass on this mountain, and the grass on which they pastured
became more abundant, were the following: they were always simple, and harmless,
and blessed, bringing no charges against one another, but always rejoicing greatly
because of the servants of God, and being clothed with the holy spirit of these
virgins, and always having pity on every man, and giving aid from their own
labour to every man, without reproach and without hesitation. The Lord,
therefore, seeing their simplicity
and all their meekness, multiplied them amid the labours of their hands, and gave
them grace in all their doings. And I, the angel of repentance, say to you who
are such, Continue to be such as these, and your seed will never be blotted
out; for the Lord has made trial of you, and inscribed you in the number of us,
and the whole of your seed will dwell with the Son of God; for ye have received
of His Spirit.
CHAPTER XXV.
"And
they who believed from the eighth mountain, where were the many fountains, and where
all the creatures of God drank of the fountains, were the following: apostles,
and teachers, who preached to the whole world, and who taught solemnly and
purely the word of the Lord, and did not at all fall into evil desires, but
walked always in righteousness and truth, according as they had received the
Holy Spirit. Such persons, therefore, shall enter in with the angels.
CHAPTER XXVI.
"And
they who believed from the ninth mountain, which was deserted, and had in it creeping
things and wild beasts which destroy men, were the following: they who had the
stains as servants, who discharged their duty ill, and who plundered widows and
orphans of their livelihood, and gained possessions for themselves from the
ministry, which they had received. If, therefore, they remain under the
dominion of the same desire, they are dead, and there is no hope of life for
them; but if they repent, and finish their ministry in a holy manner, they
shall be able to live. And they who were covered with scabs are those who have
denied their Lord, and have not returned to Him again;
but
becoming withered and desert-like, and not cleaving to the servants of God, but
living in solitude, they destroy their own souls. For as a vine, when left
within an enclosure, and meeting with neglect, is destroyed, and is made
desolate by the weeds, and in time grows wild, and is no longer of any use to
its master, so also are such men as have given themselves up, and become
useless to their Lord, from having contracted savage habits. These men,
therefore, have repentance in their power, unless they are found to have denied
from the heart; but if anyone is found to have denied from the heart, I do not
know if he may live. And I say this not for these present days, in order that anyone
who has denied may obtain repentance, for It is impossible for him to be saved
who now intends to deny his Lord; but to those who denied Him long ago, repentance
seems to be possible. If, therefore, any one intends to repent, let him do so quickly,
before the tower is completed; for if not, he will be utterly destroyed by the women.
And the chipped stones are the deceitful and the slanderers; and the wild
beasts. which you saw on the ninth mountain, are the same. For as wild beasts
destroy and kill a man by their poison, so also do the words of such men
destroy and ruin a man. These, accordingly, are mutilated in their faith, on
account of the deeds which they have done in themselves; yet some repented, and
were saved. And the rest, who are of such a character, can be saved if they repent;
but if they do not repent, they will perish with those women, whose strength
they have assumed.
CHAPTER XXVII.
"And
from the tenth mountain, where were trees which overshadowed certain sheep, they
who believed were the following: bishops given to hospitality, who always
gladly received into their houses the servants of God, without dissimulation.
And the bishops never failed to protect, by their service, the widows, and
those who were in want, and always maintained a holy conversation. All these, accordingly,
shall be protected by the Lord for ever. They who do these things are
honourable before God, and their place is already with the angels, if they
remain to the end serving God.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
"And
from the eleventh mountain, where were trees full of fruits, adorned with
fruits of various kinds, they who believed were the following: they who
suffered for the name of the Son of God, and who also suffered cheerfully with
their whole heart, and laid down their lives." "Why, then, sir,"
I said, "do all these trees bear fruit, and some of them fairer than the
rest? "Listen," he said: "all who once suffered for the name of
the Lord are honourable before God; and of all these the sins were remitted,
because they suffered for the name of the Son of God. And why their fruits are
of various kinds, and some of them superior, listen. All," he continued,
"who were brought before the authorities and were
examined, and did not deny, but suffered cheerfully--these are held in greater honour
with God, and of these the fruit is superior; but all who were cowards, and in doubt,
and who reasoned in their hearts whether they would deny or confess, and yet suffered,
of these the fruit is less, because that suggestion came into their hearts; for
that suggestion--that a servant should deny his Lord--is evil. Have a care,
therefore, ye who are planning such things, lest that suggestion remain in your
hearts, and ye perish unto God. And ye who suffer for His name ought to glorify
God, because He deemed you worthy to bear His name, that all your sins might be
healed. [Therefore, rather deem
yourselves
happy], and think that ye have done a great thing, if any of you suffer on account
of God. The Lord bestows upon you life, and ye do not understand, for your sins
were heavy; but if you had not suffered for the name of the Lord, ye would have
died to God on account of your sins. These things I say to you who are
hesitating about denying or confessing: acknowledge that ye have the Lord,
lest, denying Him, ye be delivered up to prison. If the heathen chastise their
slaves, when one of them denies his master, what, think ye, will your Lord do,
who has authority over all men? Put away these counsels out
of your hearts, that you may live continually unto God.
CHAPTER XXIX.
"And
they who believed from the twelfth mountain, which was white, are the
following: they are as infant children, in whose hearts no evil originates; nor
did they know what wickedness is, but always remained as children. Such accordingly,
without doubt, dwell in the kingdom of God, because they defiled in nothing the
commandments of God; but they remained like children all the days of their life
in the same mind. All of you, then, who shall remain stedfast, and be as
children, without doing evil, will be more honoured than all who have been
previously mentioned; for all infants are honourable before God, and are the
first persons with Him. Blessed, then, are ye who put away wickedness from
yourselves, and put on innocence. As the first of all will you live unto God." After
he had finished the similitudes of the mountains, I said to him, "Sir,
explain to me now about the stones that were taken out of the plain, and put
into the building instead of the stones that were taken out of the tower; and
about the round stones that were put into the building; and those that still
remain round."
CHAPTER XXX.
"Hear,"
he answered, "about all these also. The stones taken out of the plain and
put into the building of the tower instead of those that were rejected, are the
roots of this white mountain. When, therefore, they who believed from the white
mountain were all found guileless, the Lord of the tower commanded those from
the roots of this mountain to be cast into the building of the tower; for he
knew that if these stones were to go to the building of the tower, they would
remain bright, and not one of them become black. But if he had so resolved with
respect to the other mountains, it would have been necessary for
him to visit that tower again, and to cleanse it. Now all these persons were
found white who believed, and who will yet believe, for they are of the same
race. This is a happy race, because it is innocent. Hear now, further, about these
round and shining stones. All these also are from the white mountain. Hear,
moreover, why they were found round: because their riches had obscured and darkened
them a little from the truth, although they never departed from God; nor did
any evil word proceed out of their mouth, but all justice, virtue, and truth.
When the Lord, therefore, saw the mind of these persons, that they were born
good, and could be good, He ordered their riches to be cut down, not to be
taken s away for ever, that they might be able to do some good with what was
left them; and they will live unto God, because they are of a good race. Therefore
were they rounded a little by the chisel, and put in the building of the tower.
CHAPTER XXXI.
"But
the other round stones, which had not yet been adapted to the building of the tower,
and had not yet received the seal, were for this reason put back into their
place, because they are exceedingly round. Now this age must be cut down in
these things, and in the vanities of their riches, and then they will meet in
the kingdom of God; for they must of necessity enter into the kingdom of God,
because the Lord has blessed this innocent race. Of this race. therefore, no
one will perish; for although any of them be tempted
by the most wicked devil, and commit sin, he will quickly return to his Lord. I
deem you happy, I, who am the messenger of repentance, whoever of you are
innocent as children, because your part is good, and honourable before God. Moreover,
I say to you all, who have received the seal of the Son of God, be clothed with
simplicity, and be not mindful of offences, nor remain in wickedness. Lay
aside, therefore, the recollection of your offences and bitternesses, and you
will be formed in one spirit. And heal and take away from you those wicked
schisms, that if the Lord of the flocks come, He may rejoice concerning you.
And He will rejoice, if He find all things sound, and none of you shall perish.
But if He find any one of these sheep strayed, woe to the shepherds! And if the
shepherds themselves have strayed, what answer will they
give Him for their flocks? Will they perchance say that they were harassed by
their flocks? They will not be believed, for the thing is incredible that a
shepherd could suffer from his flock; rather will he be punished on account of
his falsehood. And I myself am a shepherd, and I am under a most stringent
necessity of rendering an account of you.
CHAPTER XXXII.
"Heal
yourselves, therefore, while the tower is still building. The Lord dwells in
men that love peace, because He loved peace; but from the contentious and the
utterly wicked He is far distant. Restore to Him, therefore, a spirit sound as
ye received it. For when you have given to a fuller a new garment, and desire
to receive it back entire at the end, if, then, the fuller return you a torn
garment, will you take it from him, and not rather be angry, and abuse him,
saying, 'I gave you a garment that was entire: why have you rent it, and made
it useless, so that it can be of no use on account of the rent which you have
made in it?' Would you not say all this to the fuller about the rent which you
found in your garment? If, therefore, you grieve about your garment, and complain
because you have not received it entire, what do you think the Lord will do to you,
who gave you a sound spirit, which you have rendered altogether useless, so
that it can
be of no service to its possessor? for its use began to be unprofitable, seeing
it was corrupted by you. Will not the Lord, therefore, because of this conduct
of yours regarding His Spirit, act in the same way, and deliver you over to
death? Assuredly, I say, he will do the same to all those whom He shall find
retaining a recollection of offences. Do not trample His mercy under foot, He
says, but rather honour Him, because He is so patient with your sins, and is not
as ye are. Repent, for it is useful to you.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
"All
these things which are written above, I, the Shepherd, the messenger of
repentance, have showed and spoken to the servants of God. If therefore ye
believe, and listen to my words, and walk in them, and amend your ways, you
shall have it in your power to live: but if you remain in wickedness, and in
the recollection of offences, no sinner of that class will live unto God. All
these words which I had to say have been spoken unto you." The Shepherd
said to me," Have you asked me everything?" And I replied, "Yes,
sir." "Why did
you not ask me about the shape of the stones that were put into the building,
that I might explain to you why we filled up the shapes?" And I said,
"I forgot, sir." "Hear now, then," he said, "about
this also. These are they who have now heard my commandments, and repented with
their whole hearts. And when the Lord saw that their repentance was good and
pure, and that they were able to remain in it, He ordered their former sins to be
blotted out. For these shapes were their sins, and they were levelled down,
that they might not appear."
Tenth Similitude
CONCERNING REPENTANCE AND
ALMS-GIVING.
CHAPTER I.
After
I had fully written down this book, that messenger who had delivered me to the Shepherd
came into the house in which I was, and sat down upon a couch, and the Shepherd
stood on his fight hand. He then called me, and spoke to me as follows: "I
have delivered you and your house to the Shepherd, that you may be protected by
him." "Yes, sir," I said. "If you wish, therefore, to be
protected," he said, from all annoyance, and from all harsh treatment, and
to have success in every good work and word, and to possess all the virtues of
righteousness, walk in these commandments which he has given you, and you will
be able to subdue all wickedness. For if you keep those commandments, every desire
and pleasure of the world will be subject to you, and success will attend you
in every good work. Take unto yourself his experience and moderation, and say
to all that
he
is in great honour and dignity with God, and that he is a president with great
power, and mighty in his office. To him alone throughout the whole world is the
power of repentance assigned. Does he seem to you to be powerful? But you
despise his experience, and the moderation which he exercises towards
you."
CHAPTER II.
I
said to him, "Ask himself, sir, whether from the time that he has entered
my house I have done anything improper, or have offended him in any
respect." He answered, "I also know that you neither have done nor
will do anything improper, and therefore I speak these words to you, that you
may persevere. For he had a good report of you to me, and you will say these
words to others, that they also who have either repented or will still repent
may entertain the same feelings with you, and he may report well of these to
me, and I to the Lord." And I said, "Sir, I make known to every man
the great works of God: and I hope that all those who love them, and have
sinned before, on heating these words, may repent, and receive life again."
"Continue, therefore, in this ministry, and finish it. And all who follow
out his commands shall have life, and great honour with the Lord. But those who
do not keep his commandments, flee from his life, and
despise him. But he has his own honour with the Lord. All, therefore, who shall
despise him, and not follow his commands, deliver themselves to death, and
every one of them will be guilty of his own blood. But I enjoin you, that you
obey his commands, and you will have a cure for your former sins.
CHAPTER III.
"Moreover,
I sent you these virgins, that they may dwell with you. For I saw that they were
courteous to you. You will therefore have them as assistants, that you may be
the better able to keep his commands: for it is impossible that these
commandments can be observed without these virgins. I see, moreover, that they abide
with you willingly; but I will also instruct them not to depart at all from your
house: do you only keep your house pure, as they will delight to dwell in a
pure abode. For they are pure, and chaste, and industrious, and have all
influence with the Lord. Therefore, if they find your house to be pure, they
will remain with you; but if any defilement, even a little, befall it, they will
immediately withdraw from your house. For these virgins do not at all like any
defilement."
I said to him, "I hope, sir, that I will please them, so that they may
always be willing to inhabit my house. And as he to whom you entrusted me has
no complaint against me, so neither will they have." He said to the Shepherd,
"I see that the servant of God wishes to live, and to keep these
commandments, and will place these virgins in a pure habitation." When he
had spoken these words he again delivered me to the Shepherd, and called those
virgins, and said to them, "Since I see that you are willing to dwell in
his house, I commend him and his house to you, asking that you withdraw not at
all from it." And the virgins heard these words with pleasure.
CHAPTER IV
The
angel then said to me, "Conduct yourself manfully in this service, and
make known to everyone the great things of God, and you will have favour in
this ministry. Whoever, therefore, shall walk in these commandments, shall have
life, and will be happy in his life; but whosoever shall neglect them shall not
have life, and will be unhappy in this life. Enjoin all, who are able to act
rightly, not to cease well-doing; for, to practise good works is useful to
them. And I say that every man ought to be saved from inconveniences. For both
he who is in want, and he who suffers inconveniences in his daily life, is in
great torture and necessity. Whoever, therefore, rescues a soul of this kind
from necessity, will gain for himself great joy. For he who is harassed by inconveniences
of this kind, suffers equal torture with him who is in chains. Moreover many,
on account of calamities of this sort, when they could not endure them, hasten their
own deaths. Whoever, then, knows a calamity of this kind afflicting a man, and does
not save him, commits a great sin, and becomes guilty of his blood. Do good
works, therefore, ye who have received good from the Lord; lest, while ye delay
to do them, the building of the tower be finished, and you be rejected from the
edifice: there is now no other tower a-building. For on your account was the
work of building suspended. Unless, then, you make haste to do rightly, the
tower will be completed, and you will be excluded." After he had spoken with
me he rose up from the couch, and taking the Shepherd and the virgins, he
departed. But he said to me that he would send back the Shepherd and the virgins
to my dwelling. Amen.
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