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Vision of

'VISION IV.

the beast.

ing, that raises such a dust.- colour, then a golden, and then 7 It was about a furlong off a white. from me. And behold I saw 14 After that I had pasthe dust rise more and more, sed by it, and was gone forinsomuch that I began to sus- ward about thirty foot; behold pect that there was Isomewhat there met me a certain virgin extraordinary in it. well adorned, as if she had

8 And the sun shone a lit- just come out of her bride. tle; and behold I saw a great chamber; all in white, having beast, as it were a whale; and on white shoes, and a vail fiery locusts came out of his down her face, and covered mouth. The height of the with shining hair. beast was about a hundred feet; and he had a head like a 2large earthen vessel.

15 Now I knew by my former visions that it was the church; and thereupon grew

9 I began to weep, and to the more cheerful. She salupray unto the Lord, that he ted me saying, Hail O Man! I would deliver me from it.-returned the salutation, saying, Then I called to mind the Lady, Hail! word which I had heard; 16 She answering said unto Doubt not, Hermas. me, Did nothing meet you, O Wherefore, brethren, man! I replied; Lady, there putting on a divine faith, and met me such a beast, as seemremembering who it was that ed able to devour a whole peo

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had taught me great things, ple; but by the power of God, delivered myself boldly unto and through his singular merthe beast. cy I escaped it.

11 Now the beast came on 17 Thou didst escape it in such a manner, as if it could well, said she; because thou 3at once have devoured & city. didst cast thy whole care up12 I canie near unto it; on God; and openedst thy and the beast extended its heart unto him; believing that whole bulk upon the ground; thou couldst be safe by no othand put forth nothing but its er, than by his great and hontongue, nor once moved itself, ourable name. till I had quite passed by it.

18 For this cause the Lord 13 Now the beast had upon sent his angel, who is over the its head four colours, first beast, whose name is Hegrin, black, then a red and bloody and stopped his mouth, that he

1 Aliquid divinitus. 2 Vas urnale.

261

should not devour thee. Thou hast escaped a great trial through thy faith, and because

Vision

1. HERMAS.

thou didst not doubt for such

a terrible beast.

interpreted

25 The golden part are ye, who have escaped out of it.

19 Go therefore, and relate For as gold is tried by the fire, to the elect of God, the great and is made profitable, so are things that he hath done for ye also in like manner tried thee. And thou shalt say un- who dwell among the men of to them, that this beast is the this world. figure of the trial that is about

to come.

26 They therefore that shall endure to the end, and be 20 If therefore ye shall have proved by them, shall be pur prepared yourselves, ye may ged. And as gold, by this triescape it, if your heart be pure al is cleansed and loses its and without spot and if ye dross so shall ye also cast as shall serve God all the rest of way all sorrow and trouble; your days without complaint. and be made pure for the 21 Cast all your cares up-building of the tower.

on the Lord, and he will di- 27 But the white colour reet them. Believe in God, denotes the time of the world ye doubtful, because he can do which is to come, in which the all things; he can both turn a-elect of God shall dwell: beway his wrath from you, and cause the elect of God shall be send you help and security. pure and without spot unto life eternal.

22 Wo to the doubtful, to those who shall hear these 28 Wherefore do not thou words, and shall despise them: cease to speak these things in it had been better for them the ears of the saints. Here that they had not been born. ye have the figure of the great 23 Then I asked her con- tribulation that is about to cerning the four colours which come; which, if you please, the beast had upon its head. shall be nothing to you. Keep But she answered me, saying; therefore in mind the things Again thou art curious in that which I have said unto you. thou askest concerning these 2) When she had spoken things. And I said unto her, thus much, she departed; but Lady, Shew me what they are? I saw not whither she went.

24 Hear, said she: The But suddenly I heard a noise, black which thou sawest, de- and I turned back, being anotes the world in which you fraid; for I thought that the dwell. The fiery and bloody beast was coming toward colour, signifies, that this age me.

must be destroyed by fire and

blood

The Second Book of HERMAS, called his COMMANDS.

¶ Introduction.

W home, and was

sent to show unto thee all

HEN I had prayed at those things again, which thou sat hast seen before; but especialdown upon the bed; a certain ly such of them as may be of man came in to me with a re-most use unto thee.

verend look, in the habit of a 6 And first of all write my shepherd cloathed with a white Commands and Similitudes, cloak, having his bag upon his the rest thou shalt so write as back, and his staff in his hand, I shall shew unto thee. But I and saluted me. therfore bid thee first of all to

2 I returned his salutation; write my Commands and Siand immediately he sat down militudes, that by often readby me, and said unto me; Iing of them, thou mayest the am sent by that venerable more 1easily keep them in that I should dwell memory. messenger, with thee all the remaining days of thy life.

7 Whereupon I wrote his Commands and Similitudes, as

3 But I thought that he was he bade me. come to try me, and said unto

8 Which things if when you him, Who are you? For I have heard, ye shall observe know to whom I am commit-to do them; and shall walk ted. He said unto me, Do according to them, and exeryou not know me? I answer-cise yourselves in them, with ed, No. I am, said he, that a pure mind; ye shall receive shepherd to whose care you from the Lord those things are delivered. which he has promised unto

4 Whilst he was yet speak-you. ing, his shape was changed; 9 But if having heard them and when I knew that it was ye shall not repent, but shall he to whom I was committed, still go on to add to your sins; I was ashamed, and a sudden 1ye shall be punished by him. fear came upon me, and I was utterly overcome with sadness, because I had spoken so fool ishly unto him.

5 But he said, be not ashamned, but receive strength in thy mind, through the commands which I am about to deliver

10 All these things that Shepherd, the angel of repentance, commanded me to write.

COMMAND I.

Of 3believing in one God.

1 Observe them, Custodire possis:

unto thee. For, said he, I am Lat. 2 Adversa recipietis. 3 Faith

Avoid

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IRST of 1all believe that sin of him that speaketh evil there is one God who by believing the slander, and created and framed all things thou also shalt have sin; beof nothing into a being.

2 He comprehends all things, and is only immense, not to be comprehended by any...

3 Who can neither be defined by any words, nor conceived by the mind.

4 Therefore believe in him, and fear him; and fearing him 2abstain from all evil.

cause thou believedst him that spake evil of thy brother.

4 1 Detraction is a pernicious thing; an inconstant, 2evil spirit; that never continues in peace, but is always in discord. 3Wherefore refrain thyself from it; and keep peace evermore with thy brother. 5 Put on a holy 4constancy

but all is full of joy
good of thy labors.

and do

5 Keep these things, and 5in which there are no sins, cast all lust 3and iniquity far from thee; and put on righteousness; and thou shalt live to God, if thou shalt keep this commandment.

COMMAND II. That we must avoid detraction; and do our almsdeeds with simplicity.

E said unto me; 4be in nocent and without disguise; so shalt thou be like an infant who knows no malice, which destroys the life of man.

2 Especially see that thou speak evil of none; nor willingly hear any one speak evil

of any.

6 6Give 7without distinction to all that are in want; not doubting to whom thou givest.

7 But give to all; for God will have us give to all, of 8all his own gifts. They therefore that receive shall give an account to God, both wherefore they received, and for what end.

8 And they that receive without a real need, shall give an account for it; but he that gives shall be innocent:

9 For he has fulfilled his duty as he received it from

3 5For if thou observest not this, thou also who hear1 Vid. Antioch. Hom xxix. 2 Dæ est, shalt be 6partaker of the mon. 3 The Greek hath 4 Rath1 Irenæus. 1. c. 3. Ebuseb. Hist. er Simplicity; according to the Greek Eccl. 158 Athanas. de Incarn. reading, preserved by Athanasius.Verb &c. 2 Habe abstinentiam. 5 Gr. which there is no evil offence, 3 Omnem concupiscentiam et nequiti-but all things smooth and delightful, am. MSS. Lamb. et Oxon. 4 Lat. en ois ouden pros komma es tiu ponerow Have simplicity, and be innocent alla ponta omala kai elara.

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5 Gr. ei de kai su akouon enochos 6 Vid. Autioch. Hom xeviii. 7 ese. 6 So the Gr. and Lamb. MS. Simply 8 Gr. ek to idion dorematon. Particeps eris preccati male loquentis, MS. Lamb. De suis donis. credens tu habebis peccatum.oun.

Avoid

COMMAND III.

lying.

God; not making any choice they make that a liar, they deto whom he should give, and file what was committed to to whom not. And this ser-them by the Lord, and become vice he did with simplicity, deceivers.

and 1to the glory of God.

5 When I heard this, I 10 Keep therefore this wept bitterly. this wept bitterly. And when he command according as I have saw me weeping, he said unto delivered it unto thee; that me; Why weepest thou? And thy repentance may be found I said; because, sir, I doubt to be sincere, and that good whether I can be saved? may come to thy house; and have a pure heart.

COMMAND III.

6 He asked me, Wherefore? I replied; Because, sir, I never spake a true word in my life; but always lived in

Of avoiding lying, and the dissimulation, and affirmed a Repentance of Hermas for his dissimulation.

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lie for truth to all men; and no man contradicted me, but all gave credit to my words.How then can I live, seeing I have done in this manner?

7 And he said unto me; Thou thinkest well, and truly.. For thou oughtest, as the servant of God, to have walked in the truth, and not have joined an evil conscience with the spirit of truth; nor have griev

2 That the spirit which the Lord hath given to dwell in thy flesh may be found true towards all men; and the Lord be glorified, who hath given such a spirit unto thee: be-ed the holy and true Spirit of cause God is true in all his God. words, and in him there is no lie.

8 And I replied unto him; Sir, I never before hearkened 3 They therefore that lie, so diligently to these things.deny the Lord; 3and become He answered; Now thou hearrobbers of the Lord; 4not ren-est them: Take care from dering to God what they re- henceforth, that even those ceived from him. things which thou hast former4 For they received the spir-ly spoken falsely for the sake it free from lying if therefore of thy business, may, 1by thy 1 Gloriously to God, 2 Antioch, present truth, receive credit. 3 According to the Gr. 9 For even those things 4 See III. Hermas, Simil. ix. v. 268 et seq.

Hom. lxvi.

265

1 Through these words. Lat. His verbis et illa fidem recipiant.

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