101 Some of them also sungpsalms, others made up the choruswith them. But I walked aboutthe tower with them, rejoicingsilently, and seeming to myselfto be grown young again.
102 When the evening came on,I would forthwith have gonehome, but they withheld me,and suffered me not to depart.Wherefore I continued with themthat night near the same tower.
103 So they spread their linengarments upon the ground; andplaced me in the middle, nor didthey anything else, only theyprayed.
104 I also prayed with themwithout ceasing, nor less thanthey. Who, when they saw me prayin that manner, rejoiced greatly:and I continued there with theirtill the next day.
105 And when we had worshipped God,then the shepherd came and said untothem: You have done no injury tothis man? They answered, Ask him.I said unto him, Sir, I have receiveda great deal of satisfaction in thatI have remained with them.
106 And he said unto me, How didstthou sup? I answered, Sir, I feastedthe whole night upon the words ofthe Lord. They received thee wellthen, said he? I said, Sir, very well.
107 He answered, Wilt thounow learn what thou didst desire?I replied, Sir, I will: and first Ipray thee that thou shouldest showme all things in the order that Iasked them.
108 He answered, I will do allas thou wouldst have me, norwill I hide any thing from thee.
109 First of all, Sir, said I,tell me, what this rock and thisgate denote? Hearken, said he;this rock, and this gate, are theSon of God. I replied, Sir, howcan that be; seeing the rock isold, but the gate new?
110 Hear, said he, O foolishman! and understand. The Sonof God is indeed more ancientthan any creature; insomuchthat he was in council with hisFather at the creation of allthings.
111 But the gate is thereforenew, because he appeared in thelast days in the fullness of time;that they who shall attain untosalvation, may by it enter into thekingdom of God.
112 You have seen, said he,those stones which were carriedthrough the gate, how they wereplaced in the building of thetower; but that those which werenot carried through the gate,were sent away into their ownplaces?113 I answered, sir, I saw it.Thus, said he, no man shall enterinto the kingdom of God, but hewho shall take upon him the nameof the Son of God.
114 For if you would enterinto any city, and that city shouldhe encompassed with a wall, andhad only one gate, could youenter into that city except by thatgate?
115 I answered, Sir, how couldI do otherwise? As therefore, saidhe, there would be no other wayof entering into that city but byits gate, so neither can any oneenter into the kingdom of God,but only by the name of his Son,who is most dear unto him.
116 And he said unto me,Didst thou see the multitude ofthose that built that tower? Sir,said I, I saw it. He answered,All those are the angels, venerablein their dignity,
117 With those is the Lordencompassed as with a wall: butthe gate is the Son of God, who isthe only way of coming unto God.For no man shall go to God, butby his Son.
118 Thou sawest also, said he,the six men, and in the middle ofthem that venerable great man,who walked about the tower, andrejected the stones out of the tower?
119 Sir, said I, I saw them.He answered, that tall man wasthe Son of God; and those sixwere his angels of most eminentdignity, which stand about himon the right hand and on the left.
120 Of these excellent angelsnone comes in unto God withouthim. He added, Whosoever there.fore shall not take upon him hisname, he shall nor enter into thekingdom of God.
121 Then I said, What is thistower? This, said he, is the church.And what, Sir, are these virgins?He said unto me, These are theholy spirits, for no man can enterinto the kingdom of God, exceptthese clothe him with their garment,
122 For it will avail thee nothingto take up the name of the Son ofGod, unless thou shalt alsoreceive their garment from them.For these virgins are the powersof the Son of God. So shall aman in vain bear his name, unlesshe shall be also endued with hispowers.
123 And he said unto me, sawestthou those stones that were castaway? They bore indeed the name,but put not on their garment.I said, Sir, what is theirgarment? Their very names,said he, are their garment.
124 Therefore whosoever beareththe name of the Son of God,ought to bear their names also;for the Son of God also himselfbeareth their names.
125 As for those stones,continued he, which being deliveredby their hands, thou sawest remainin the building, they were clothedwith their power; for which causethou seest the whole tower of thesame colour with the rock, and madeas it were of one stone.
126 So also those who havebelieved in God by his Son, haveput on his spirit. Behold thereshall be one spirit, and one body,and one colour of their garments;and all they shall attain this, whoshall bear the names of these virgins.
127 And I said, Sir, why thenwere those stones cast away whichwere rejected, seeing they alsowere carried through the gate,and delivered by the hands ofthese virgins into the buildingof this tower?
128 Seeing, said he thou takestcare to inquire diligently into allthings, hear also concerning thosestones which were rejected. Allthese received the name of theSon of God, and with that thepower of these virgins.
129 Having therefore receivedthese spirits, they were perfected,and brought into the number ofthe servants of God; and theybegan to be one body, and to haveone garment, for they were enduedwith the same righteousness,which they alike exercised.
130 But after that they beheldthose women which thou sawestclothed with a black garment,with their shoulders at liberty andtheir hair loose; they fixed theirdesires upon them, being temptedwith their beauty; and wereclothed with their power,and cast off the clothingof the virgins:
131 Therefore were they castoff from the house of God, anddelivered to those women. Butthey that were not corrupted withtheir beauty, remained in thehouse of God. This, said he, isthe signification of those stoneswhich were rejected.
132 And I said, sir, what ifany of these men shall repent, andcast away their desire of thosewomen, and be converted, andreturn to these virgins, and puton again their virtue; shall theynot enter into the house of God?
133 They shall enter, said he,if they shall lay aside all theworks of those women, and shallresume the power of these virgins,and shall walk in their works.
134 And for this cause there isa stop in the building, that if theyshall repent, they may be addedto the building of this tower; butif they shall not repent, that othersmay be built in their places, andso they may be utterly cast away.
135 For all these things I gavethanks unto the Lord, that beingmoved with mercy towards allthose upon whom his name iscarried, he sent to us the angel ofrepentance to preside over us whohave sinned against him; and thathe has refreshed our spirits whichwere almost gone, and who hadno hope of salvation, but are nowrefreshed to the renewal of life.
136 Then I said, Show me nowsir, why this tower is not builtupon the ground, but upon a rock,and upon the gate? He replied,Thou art foolish, and withoutunderstanding, therefore thouasketh this.
137 And I said, sir, I mustneeds ask all things of youbecause I understand nothing at all.For all your answers are great andexcellent; and which a man canhardly understand.
138 Hear, said he: The nameof the Son of God is great andwithout bounds, and the wholeworld is supported by it. Iftherefore, said I, every creatureof God be sustained by his Son,why should he not support thosealso who have been invited by him,and who carry his name, and walkin his commandments?
139 Seest thou not, said he, thathe doth support them, who withall their heart, bear his name?He therefore is their foundation,and gladly supports those who donot deny his name, but willinglybear it.
140 And I said: Sir, tell methe names of these virgins; and ofthose women that were clothedwith the black garment.
141 Hear, said he, the names ofthose virgins which are the morepowerful, and stand at the cornersof the gate. These are theirnames:
142 The first is called Faith;the second Continence; the thirdPower; the fourth Patience; therest which stand beneath theseare, Simplicity, Innocence,Chastity, Cheerfulness, Truth,Understanding, Concord, Charity.
143 Whosoever therefore bearthese names, and the name of theSon of God, shall enter into thekingdom of God.
144 Hear now, said he, thenames of those women, whichwere clothed with the black garment.Of these, four are the principal:the first is Perfidiousness;the second, Incontinence; thethird, Infidelity; the fourth,Pleasure.
145 And the rest which followare called thus, Sadness, Malice,Lust, Anger, Lying, Foolishness,Pride, and Hatred. The servantof God, which carries these spirits,shall see indeed the kingdom ofGod, but he shall not enter into it.
146 But, sir, what are thosestones which were taken out of thedeep and fitted into the building?The ten, said he, which wereplaced at the foundation, are thefirst age; the following five-and-twenty, are the second, of righteousmen.
147 The next thirty-five, are theprophets and ministers of the Lord.And the forty, are the Apostles anddoctors of the preaching of theSon of God.
148 And I said, sir, why did thevirgins put even those stones intothe building after they were carriedthrough the gate? And he said,Because these first carried thosespirits, and they departed not onefrom the other, neither the menfrom the spirits, nor the spiritsfrom the men:
149 But the spirits were joinedto those men even to the day oftheir death; who if they had nothad these spirits with them, theycould not have been useful to thebuilding of this tower.
150 And I said, sir, show methis farther. He answered, Whatdost then ask? Why did thesestones come out of the deep, andwere placed into the building ofthis tower, seeing that they longago carried those holy spirits?
151 It was necessary, said he,for them to ascend by water, thatthey might be at rest. For theycould not otherwise enter into thekingdom of God, but by layingaside the mortality of their formerlife.
152 They therefore being dead,were nevertheless sealed with theseal of the Son of God, and soentered into the kingdom of God.
153 For before a man receivesthe name of the Son of God, he isordained unto death; but when hereceives that seal, he is freed fromdeath, and assigned unto life.
154 Now that seal is the waterof baptism, into which men godown under the obligation untodeath, but come up appointed untolife.
155 Wherefore to those also wasthis seal preached, and they madeuse of it, that they might enterinto the kingdom of God.
156 And I said, Why then, sir,did these forty stones also ascendwith them out of the deep, havingalready received that seal?
157 He answered, Becausethese Apostles and teachers, whopreached the name of the Son ofGod, dying after they had receivedhis faith and power, preached tothem who were dead before: andthey gave this seal to them.
158 They went down thereforeinto the water with them, and againcame up. But these went downwhilst they were alive, and cameup again alive: whereas those whowere before dead, went down dead,but came up alive;
159 Through these thereforethey received life, and knew theSon of God: for which cause theycame up with them, and were fitto come into the building of thetower; and were not cut, but putin entire; because they died inrighteousness, and in great purity;only this seal was wanting tothem.
160 Thus you have the explicationof these things.
161 I answered: Sir, tell menow what concerns those mountains;why are they so different, someof one form, and some of another?
162 Hear, said he; These twelvemountains which thou seest, aretwelve nations, which make up thewhole world. Wherefore the Sonof God is preached to them, bythose whom he sent unto them.
163 But why, said I, are theydifferent, and every one of a figure?He replied, Hearken. Those twelvenations which possess the wholeworld, are twelve people.
164 And as thou hast beheldthese mountains different, so arethey. I will therefore open tothee the meaning and actions ofevery mountain.
165 But first, sir, said I, showme this; Seeing these mountainsare so different, how have theyagreed in the building of thistower; and been brought to onecolour; and are no less brightthan those that came out of thedeep?
166 Because, replied he, all thenations which are under heaven,have heard and believed in thesame one name of the Son of Godby whom they are called.
167 Wherefore having receivedhis seal, they have all been madepartakers of the same understandingand knowledge; and their faithand charity have been the same;and they have carried the spiritsof these virgins together with hisname.
168 And therefore the buildingof this tower appeared to be of thesame colour, and did shine likethe brightness of the sun.
169 But after that they had thusagreed in one mind, there began tobe one body of them all; howbeitsome of them polluted themselves,and were cast off from those of therighteous, and again returned totheir former state, and becameeven worse than they were before.
170 How, air, said I, werethey worse who knew the Lord?He answered: If he who knowsnot the Lord liveth wickedly,the punishment of his wickednessattends him;
171 But he who has known theLord, ought to abstain altogetherfrom all wickedness, and more andmore to be the servant ofrighteousness.
172 And does not he then seemto thee to sin more who ought tofollow goodness, if he shall preferthe part of sin; than he whooffends without knowing thepower of God?
173 Wherefore these are indeedordained unto death; but they whohave known the Lord, and haveseen his wonderful works, if theyshall live wickedly, they shall bedoubly punished, and shall die forever.
174 As therefore thou hast seenthat after the stones were cast outof the tower, which had been rejected,they were delivered to wicked andcruel spirits; and thou beheldestthe tower so cleansed, as if it hadall been made of one stone:
175 So the church of God, whenit shall be purified: (the wickedand counterfeits, the mischievousand doubtful, and all that havebehaved themselves wickedly in it,and committed divers kinds of sin,being cast out) shall become onebody, and there shall be oneunderstanding, one opinion,one faith, and the same charity.
176 And then shall the Son ofGod rejoice among them, and shallreceive his people with a pure will.
177 And I said; Sir, all thesethings are great and honourable;but now show unto me the effectand force of every mountain: thatevery soul which trusteth in theLord, when it shall hear thesethings may honour his great, andwonderful, and holy name.
178 Hear, said he, the varietyof these mountains, that is, of thetwelve nations.
179 They who have believedof the first mountain, which isblack, are those who have revoltedfrom the faith, and spoken wickedthings against the Lord; andbetrayed the servants of God.
180 These are condemned todeath; there is no repentance forthem: and therefore they areblack, because their kind iswicked.
181 Of the second mountainwhich was smooth, are thehypocrites, who have believed,and the teachers of naughtiness:and these are next to the foregoing,which have not in them the fruit ofrighteousness.
182 For as their mountain isbarren and without fruit so alsosuch kind of men have indeed thename of Christians, but are emptyof faith; nor is there any fruit ofthe truth in them.
183 Nevertheless there is roomleft to them of repentance, if theyshall speedily pursue it; but ifthey shall delay, they also shallbe partakers of death with theforegoing kind.
184 I said, air, why is thereroom left to those for repentance,and not to the foregoing kind,seeing their sins are well nigh thesame?
185 There is therefore, said he,to these a return unto life byrepentance, because they have notblasphemed against their Lord,nor betrayed the servants of God:but by their desire of gain havedeceived men, leading them accordingto the lusts of sinners; whereforethey shall suffer for this thing.
186 Howbeit there is still leftthem room for repentance, becausethey have not spoken any thingwickedly against the Lord.
187 They who are of thethird mountain which had thornsand brambles, are those whobelieved, but were some of themrich; others taken up with manyaffairs: the brambles are theirriches; the thorns, those affairs inwhich they were engaged.
188 Now they who are entangledin much business, and in diversityof affairs, join not themselves tothe servants of God, but wander,being called away by those affairswith which they are choked.
189 And so they which are rich,with difficulty yield themselves tothe conversation of the servantsof God; fearing lest any thingshould be asked of them. Thesetherefore shall hardly enter thekingdom of God.
190 For as men walk with difficultybare-foot over thorns, even sothese kind of men shall scarcelyenter into the kingdom of God.
191 Nevertheless there is affordedto all these a return unto repentance,if they shall quickly return to it;because in their former days theyhaving neglected to work, in the timethat is to come they may do some good.
192 If therefore havingrepented they shall do the worksof righteousness, they shall live;but if they shall continue in theirevil courses, they shall be deliveredto those women who will take awaytheir lives.
193 As for the fourth mountain,which had many herbs, the upperpart of which is green, butthe roots dry, and some of whichbeing touched with the heat of thesun, are withered;
194 It denotes the doubtful, whohave believed, and some otherswho carry the Lord on their tongues,but have him not in their hearts:therefore their grass is dry,and without root; because theylive only in words, but theirworks are dead.
195 These therefore are neitherdead nor living, and withal aredoubtful. For the doubtful areneither green nor dry; that isneither dead nor alive.
196 For as the herbs dry awayat the sight of the sun, so thedoubtful, as soon as they hear ofpersecution, and fear inconveniencies,return to their idols, and againserve them, and are ashamedto bear the name of their Lord.
197 This kind of men then isneither dead nor alive; neverthelessthese also may live, if they shallpresently repent; but if not,they shall be delivered to thosewomen, who shall take away theirlives.
198 As concerning the fifthmountain that is craggy, and yethas green grass; they are of thiskind who have believed, and arefaithful indeed, but believe withdifficulty, and are bold and self-conceited; and would be thoughtto know all things, but reallyknow nothing.
199 Wherefore, by reason ofthis confidence, knowledge isdeparted from them; and a rashpresumption is entered into them.
200 But they carry themselveshigh, and as prudent men; andthough they are fools, yet wouldseem to be teachers.
201 Now by reason of this follymany of them whilst they magnifythemselves, are become vain andempty. For boldness and vainconfidence is a very evil spirit.
202 Wherefore many of theseare cast away; but othersacknowledging their error, haverepented, and submitted themselvesto those who are knowing.
203 And to all the rest of thiskind, there is repentance allowed;forasmuch as they were not somuch wicked as foolish, and voidof understanding.
204 If these therefore shallrepent, they shall live unto God;but if not, they shall dwell withthose women, who shall exercisetheir wickedness upon them.
205 For what concerns thesixth mountain having greater andlesser clefts, they are such as havebelieved; but those in which werelesser clefts are they who have hadcontroversies among themselves;and by reason of their quarrelslanguish in the faith:
206 Nevertheless many of thesehave repented, and so will the restwhen they shall hear my commands;for their controversies are butsmall, and they will easilyreturn unto repentance.
207 But those who have thegreater clefts, will be as stiffstones, mindful of grudges andoffences, and full of anger amongthemselves. These therefore arecast from the tower, and refusedto be put into its building; forthis kind of men shall hardlylive.
208 Our God and Lord, whoruleth over all things, and haspower over all his creatures, willnot remember our offences, but iseasily appeased by those whoconfess their sins: but man beinglanguid, mortal, infirm, and fullof sins, perseveres in his angeragainst man; as if it were in hispower to save or destroy him.
209 But I, as the angel who amset over your repentance, admonishyou, that whosoever among you hasany such purpose he should lay itaside, and return unto repentance;and the Lord will heal your formersins, if you shall purge yourselffrom this evil spirit; but if youshall not do it, ye shall bedelivered to him unto death.
210 As for the seventh mountainin which the grass was greenand flourishing, and the wholemountain faithful; and all kind ofcattle fed upon the grass of it, andthe more the grass was eaten, somuch the more it flourished;
211 They are such as believed,and were always good and upright;and without any differences amongthemselves, but still rejoicedin the servants of God, havingput on the spirit of these virgins;and been always forward to showmercy to all men, readily givingto all men of their labourswithout upbraiding, and withoutdeliberation.
212 Wherefore the Lord seeingtheir simplicity and innocence,has increased them in the works oftheir hands, and given them gracein all their works.
213 But I, who am the angelappointed over your repentance,exhort you, that as many as are ofthis kind would continue in thesame purpose, that your seed maynot be rooted out for ever.
214 For the Lord hath triedyou, and written you into ournumber; and all your seed shalldwell with the Son of God; for yeare all of his spirit.
215 As concerning the eighthmountain in which were a greatmany springs, by which everykind of all the creatures of Godwas watered; they are such ashave believed the Apostles whichthe Lord sent into all the world topreach;
216 And some of them beingteachers have preached and taughtpurely and sincerely, and havenot in the least yielded to any evil,desires, but have constantly walkedin righteousness and truth.
217 These therefore have theirconversations among the angels.
218 Again; as for what concernsthe ninth mountain which isa desert, and full of serpents; theyare such as have believed, but hadmany stains:
219 These are such ministers asdischarge their ministry amiss;ravishing away the goods of thewidows and fatherless; and servethemselves, not others, out ofthose things which they havereceived.
220 These, if they continue inthis covetousness, have deliveredthemselves unto death, nor shallthere be any hope of life for them.But if they shall be converted,and shall discharge their ministrysincerely, they may live.
221 As for those which werefound rough, they are such ashave denied the name of the Lord,and not returned again to theLord, but have become savageand wild; not applying themselvesto the servants of God; but beingseparated from them, have for alittle carelessness lost their lives.
222 For as a vine that is forsakenin a hedge, and never dressed,perishes and is choked by theweeds, and in time becomes wild,and ceases to be useful to its lord;so this kind of men despairing ofthemselves, and being soured,have begun to be unprofitable totheir Lord.
223 Howbeit, to these there is,after all, repentance allowed, ifthey shall not be found from theirhearts to have denied Christ; butif any of these shall be found tohave denied him from his heart,I cannot tell whether such a onecan attain unto life.
224 I say therefore that if anyone hath denied, he should inthese days return unto repentance;for it cannot be that anyonewho now denies the Lord, canafterwards attain unto salvationnevertheless repentance is promisedunto them who have formerly denied.
225 But he who will repentmust hasten on his repentance,before the building of this toweris finished; otherwise, he shall bedelivered by those women untodeath.
226 But they that are maimed,are the deceitful; and those whomix with one another, are theserpents that you saw mingled inthat mountain.
227 For as the poison of serpentsis deadly unto men, so the wordsof such persons infect anddestroy men. They are thereforemaimed in their faith, by reasonof that kind of life which theylead.
228 Howbeit some of them,having repented, have been saved;and so shall others of the samekind be also saved, if they shallrepent; but if not, they shall dieby those women who power andforce posses,
229 For what concerns thetenth mountain, in which were thetrees covering the cattle, they aresuch as have believed; and someof them have been bishops, that is,governors of the churches.
230 Others, are such stones ashave not feignedly, but with acheerful mind entertained theservants of God.
231 Then, such as have been setover inferior ministries, and haveprotected the poor and the widows;and have always kept a chasteconversation: therefore theyalso are protected by the Lord.
232 Whosoever shall do on thiswise, are honoured with the Lord;and their place is among theangels, if they shall continueto obey the Lord even unto the end.
233 As to the eleventh mountainin which were trees loadedwith several sorts of fruit; theyare such as have believed, andsuffered death, for the name of theLord; and have endured with aheavy mind, and have given uptheir lives with all their hearts.
234 And I said, Why then, sir,have all these fruit indeed, but yetsome fairer than others?
235 Hearken, said he: Whosoeverhave suffered for the name ofthe Lord are esteemed honourableby the Lord; and all their offencesare blotted out, because they havesuffered death for the name of theSon of God.
236 Hear now, why their fruitsare different, and some of themexcel others. They who werebrought before magistrates, andbeing asked, denied not the Lord,but suffered with a ready mind;these are more honourable withthe Lord. The fruits thereforethat are the most fair are these.
237 But they who were fearfuland doubtful, and have deliberatedwith themselves whether theyshould confess or deny Christ, andyet have suffered; their fruits aresmaller, because that this thoughtcame into their hearts.
238 For it is a wicked and evilthought for a servant to deliberatewhether he should deny his master:Take heed therefore ye whohave such thoughts, that this mindPontinrie not in you, and ye dieunto God.
239 But ye who suffer death forhis name sake, ought to honourthe Lord, that he has esteemedyou worthy to bear his name; andthat you should be delivered fromall your sins.
240 And why therefore do younot rather esteem yourselves happy?Ye think verily that if anyone among you suffer, he performsa great work! Yet the Lordgiveth you life, and ye understandit not. For your offences didoppress you; and if you had notsuffered for his name sake, ye wouldnow be dead unto the Lord.
241 Wherefore I speak this untoyou who deliberate whether yeshould confess or deny him. Confessthat ye have the Lord for yourGod, lest at any time denying him,ye be delivered up into bonds.
242 For if all nations punishtheir servants which deny theirmasters; what think you that theLord will do unto you, who hasthe power of all things?
243 Remove therefore out ofyour hearts these doubts, that yemay live for ever unto God.
244 As for the twelfth mountain,which was white, they aresuch as have believed like sincerechildren, into whose thoughtsthere never came any malice, norhave they ever known what sinwas, but have always continued intheir integrity.
245 Wherefore this kind of menshall without all doubt inherit thekingdom of God; because theyhave never in any thing defiledthe commandments of God, buthave continued with sincerity inthe same condition all the days oftheir lives.
246 Whosoever therefore, saidhe, shall continue as childrenwithout malice; shall be morehonourable than all those of whomI have yet spoken: for all suchchildren are honoured by theLord, and esteemed the first ofall.
247 Happy therefore are yewho shall remove all malice fromyou, and put on innocence; be.cause ye shall first see the Lord.248 And after he had thusended his explication of all themountains, I said unto him, Sir,show me now also what concernsthe stones that were brought outof the plain, and put into thetower in the room of those thatwere rejected.
249 As also concerning thoseround stones which were addedinto the building of the tower;and also of those who stillcontinued round.
250 Hear now, says he,concerning those stones which werebrought out of the plain into thebuilding of the tower, and placedin the room of those that wererejected: they are the roots ofthat white mountain.
251 Wherefore because thosewho have believed of that mountain,were very innocent; the lord ofthis tower commanded that theywhich were of the roots of thismountain should be placed intothe building.
252 For he knew that if theywere put into, this building theywould continue bright; nor wouldany of them any more be madeblack.
253 But if he had added afterthis manner, from the rest of themountains, he would almost haveneeded again to visit the tower,and to cleanse it.
254 Now all these white stonesare the young men who have believed,or shall believe; for they are allof the same kind. Happy is thiskind, because it is innocent.
255 Hear now also concerningthose round and bright stones; allthese are of this white mountain.But they are therefore foundround, because their riches havea little darkened them from thetruth, and dazzled their eyes.
256 Howbeit they have neverdeparted from the Lord, nor hasany wicked word proceeded outof their mouths; but allrighteousness, and virtue,and truth.
257 When therefore the Lordsaw their minds, and that theymight adorn the truth; hecommanded that they should continuegood, and that their riches shouldbe pared away:
258 For he would not havethem taken wholly away, to theend they might do some goodwith that which was left, and liveunto God; because they also areof a good kind.
259 Therefore was there littlecut off from them, and so theywere put into the building of thistower.
260 As for the rest whichcontinued still round, and werenot found fit for the building ofthis tower, because they have notyet received the seal; they werecarried back to their place, be.cause they were found veryround.
261 But this present world mustbe cut away from them, and thevanities of their riches; and thenthey will be fit for the kingdom ofGod. For they must enter intothe kingdom of God, because Godhas blessed this innocent kind.
262 Of this kind therefore noneshall fall away: for though any ofthem being tempted by the devilshould offend, he shall soon returnto his Lord God.
263 I the angel of repentanceesteem you happy, whosoever areinnocent as little children, becauseyour portion is good and honourablewith the Lord.
264 And I say unto all youwho have received this seal; keepsimplicity, and remember not theoffences which are committedagainst you, nor continue inmalice, or in bitterness, throughthe memory of offences.
265 But become one spirit,and provide remedies for theseevil rents, and remove them fromyou; that the lord of the sheepmay rejoice at it; for he willrejoice, if he shall find all whole.
266 But if any of these sheepshall be found scattered away, Woeshall be to the shepherds; andif the shepherds themselves shallbe scattered; what will they answerto the lord of the sheep-fold?Will they say that they weretroubled by the sheep? Butthey shall not be believed.
267 For it is an incredible thingthat the shepherd should suffer byhis flock; and he shall be the morepunished for his life.
268 Now I am the shepherd;and especially must give anaccount of you.
269 Wherefore take care ofyourselves whilst the tower is,yet building. The Lord dwellsin those that love peace, for peaceis beloved; but he is far off fromthe contentious, and those who arefull of malice.
270 Wherefore restore unto himthe Spirit entire, as ye received it.For if thou shalt give unto afuller a garment new and whole,thou wilt expect to receive it wholeagain; if therefore the fuller shallrestore it unto thee torn, wouldstthou receive it?
271 Wouldst thou not presentlybe angry, and reproach him,saying: I gave my garment to theewhole, why halt thou rent it, andmade it useless to me? Now it isof no use to me, by reason of therent which thou hast made in it.Wouldst thou not say all this to afuller, for the rent which he madein thy garment?
272 If therefore thou wouldstbe concerned for thy garment,and complain that thou hadst notreceived it whole; what thinkestthou that the Lord will do, whogave his Spirit to thee entire, andthou hast rendered him altogetherunprofitable, so that he can be ofno use unto his Lord? For beingcorrupted by thee, he is no longerprofitable to him.
273 Will not therefore the Lorddo the same concerning his Spirit,by reason of thy deed? Undoubtedly,said I, he will do the sameto all those whom he shall find tocontinue in the remembrance ofinjuries.
274 Tread not then under foothe said, his mercy; but ratherhonour him, because he is sopatient with respect to your offences,and not like one of you; but repent,for it will be profitable for you.
275 All these things whichare above written, I the shepherdand angel of repentance, haveshown and spoken to the servantsof God.
276 If therefore ye shall believeand hearken to these words, andshall walk in them and correctyour ways, ye shall live. But ifye shall, continue in malice, andin the remembrance of injuries,no such sinners shall live untoGod.
277 All these things which wereto be spoken by me, I have thusdelivered unto you. Then theshepherd said unto me, Hast thouasked all things of me?I answered, sir, I have.
278 Why then, said he, hastthou not asked concerning thespaces of these stones that wereput in the building, that I mayexplain that also unto thee?I answered, sir, I forgot it.Hear, then, said he, concerningthese also.
279 They are those who havenow heard these commands, andhave repented with all theirhearts;
280 And when the Lord sawthat their repentance was goodand pure, and that they couldcontinue in it, he commandedtheir former sins to be blottedout. For these spaces were theirsins, and they are therefore madeeven that they might not appear.
SIMILITUDE X.
Of Repentance and alms-deeds.
AFTER I had written thisbook, the angel which haddelivered me to that shepherd,came into the house where I wasand sat upon the bed, and thatshepherd stood at his right hand.
2 Then he called me and saidunto me; I delivered thee andthy house to this shepherd, thatthou mightest be protected byhim. I said, Yes, Lord.
3 If therefore, said he, thouwilt be protected from allvexations and from all cruelty, andhave success in every good wordand work, and have all virtue andrighteousness; walk in thosecommands which he has given thee,and thou shalt have dominionover all sin.
4 For if thou keepest thosecommands, all the lust and pleasureof this present world shall besubject to thee; and success shallfollow thee in every good undertaking.
5 Take therefore his gravityand modesty towards thee, andsay unto all, that he is in greathonour and renown with God, andis a prince of great authority, andpowerful in his office.
6 To him only is the power ofrepentance committed throughoutthe whole world. Does he notseem to thee to be of greatauthority?
7 But ye despise his goodness,and the modesty which he showstowards you.
8 I said unto him; Sir, askhim since the time that he cameinto my house whether I havedone any thing disorderly, orhave offended him in any thing?
9 I know, said he, that thouhast done nothing disorderly,neither wilt thou hereafter doany such thing, and therefore Ispeak these things with thee thatthen mayest persevere; for hehas given me a good accountconcerning thee.
10 But thou shalt speak thesethings to others, that they whoeither have repented, or shallrepent, may be like-minded withthee, and he may give me asgood an account of them also;and that I may do the same untothe Lord.
11 I answered; Sir, I declareto all men the wonderful works ofGod; and I hope that all wholove them, and have before sinned,when they shall hear these things,will repent, and recover life.
12 Continue therefore, said he,in this ministry, and fulfil it.And whosoever shall do accordingto the commands of this shepherd,he shall live; and shall have greathonour both here and with theLord.
13 But they that shall not keephis commands, flee from their life,and are adversaries to it. Andthey that follow not his commands,shall deliver themselvesunto death; and shall be everyone guilty of his own blood.
14 But I say unto thee, keepthese commandments, and thoushalt find a cure for all thy sins.
15 Moreover, I have sentthese virgins to dwell with thee;for I have seen that they are verykind to thee. Thou shalt thereforehave them for thy helpers,that thou mayest the better keepthe commands which he hath giventhee; for these commands cannotbe kept without these virgins.
16 And as I see how they arewilling to be with thee, I willalso command them that they shallnot all depart from thy house.
17 Only do thou purify thyhouse; for they will readily dwellin a clean house. For they areclean and chaste, and industrious;and all of them have grace withthe Lord.
18 If therefore thou shalt havethy house pure, they will abidewith thee. But, if it shall benever so little polluted, they willimmediately depart from thy house;for these virgins cannot endure anymanner of pollution.
19 I said unto him; Sir, I hopethat I shall so please them, thatthey shall always delight to dwellin my house. And as he to whomyou have committed me, makesno complaint of me; so neithershall they complain.
20 Then he said to that shepherd:I see that the servant of God willlive and keep these commandments,and place these virgins in a purehabitation.
21 When he had said this,he delivered me again to thatshepherd, and called the virgins,and said unto them; Forasmuch as Isee that ye will readily dwell inthis man's house, I commend himand his family to you, that ye maynot at all depart from his house.And they willingly heard thesewords.
22 Then he said unto me,Go on manfully in thy ministry;declare to all men the great thingsof God, and thou shalt find gracein this ministry.
23 And whosoever shall walkin these commands, shall live,and be happy in his life. But hethat shall neglect them, shall notlive, and shall be unhappy in hislife.
24 Say unto all that whosoevercan do well, cease not to exercisethemselves in good works, for itis profitable unto them. For Iwould that all men should bedelivered from the inconveniencesthey lie under.
25 For he that wants, andsuffers inconveniences in hisdaily life, is in great tormentand necessity. Whosoever thereforedelivers such a soul from necessity,gets great joy unto himself.
26 For he that is grieved withsuch inconveniencies is equallytormented, as if he were in chains.And many upon the account ofsuch calamities, being not able tobear them, have chosen even todestroy themselves.
27 He therefore that knows thecalamity of such a man, and doesnot free him from it, commits agreat sin, and is guilty of hisblood.
28 Wherefore exercise yourselvesin good works, as many ashave received ability from theLord; lest whilst ye delay to dothem, the building of the tower befinished; because for your sakesthe building is stopped.
29 Except therefore ye shallmake haste to do well, the towershall be finished, and ye shall beshut out of it.
30 And after he had thus spokenwith me, he rose up from the bedand departed, taking the shepherdand virgins with him.
31 Howbeit he said unto me,that he would send back theshepherd and virgins untomy house. Amen.
REFERENCES TO THE BOOK OFHERMAS, THE SHEPHERD.
[This book, divided into three parts, called his VISIONS, COMMANDS,and SIMILITUDES, is thus entitled, because it was composed byHermas, brother to Pius, bishop of Rome; and because the Angel, whobears the principal part in it, is represented in the form and habitof a shepherd. Ireneus quotes it under the very name of Scripture.Origen thought it a most useful writing, and that it was divinelyinspired; Eusebius says that, though it was not esteemed canonical,it was read publicly in the churches, which is corroborated byJerome; and Athanasius cites it, calls it a most useful work, andobserves, that though it was not strictly canonical, the Fathersappointed it to be read for direction and confirmation in faith andpiety. Jerome, notwithstanding this, and that he applauded it in hiscatalogue of writers, in his comments upon it afterwards, terms itapocryphal and foolish. Tertullian praised it when a Catholic, andabused it when a Montanist. Although Gelasius ranks it among theapocryphal books, it is found attached to some of the most ancientMSS. of the New Testament; and Archbishop Wake, believing it thegenuine work of an apostolical Father, preserves it to the Englishreader by the foregoing translation, in which he has rendered thethree parts of it not only more exact, but in greater purity thanthey had before appeared. The archbishop procured Dr. Grabe toentirely collate the old Latin version with an ancient MS. in theLambeth library; and the learned prelate himself still furtherimproved the whole from a multitude of fragments of the originalGreek never before used for that purpose.]