SIMILITUDE 9
The greatest mysteries of the militant and triumphant church
which is to be built.
1. After I had written the Commands and
Similitudes of the Shepherd, the Angel of Repentance, he came to
me and said, I will show you all those things that the angel
spoke with you under the figure of the Church. For that Spirit is
the Son of God.
2. And because you were weak in body, it was not declared to you
by the angel until you were strengthened by the Spirit and
increased in force so you could also see the angel.
3. For then indeed the building of the tower was very well and
gloriously shown to you by the Church; nevertheless you saw all
things shown to you as it were by a virgin.
4. Now you are enlightened by the angel, but yet by the same
Spirit. But you must consider all things diligently, for
therefore I am sent into your house by that venerable messenger,
so that when you will have seen all things powerful, you may not
be afraid as before.
5. And he led me to the ascent of a mountain in Arcadia, and we
sat upon its top. And he showed me a great plain, and about it
twelve mountains in different figures.
6. The first was black as soot. The second was smooth, without
herbs. The third was full of thorns and thistles. The fourth had
herbs half dried, of which the upper part was green, but that
next to the root was dry; and when the sun grew hot, some of the
herbs were dry.
7. The fifth mountain was very rugged, but yet had green herbs.
The sixth mountain was full of clefts, some lesser and some
greater; and in these clefts grew grass, not flourishing, but
which seemed to be withering.
8. The seventh mountain had delightful pasture and was wholly
fruitful, and all kinds of cattle and the birds of heaven fed
upon it; and the more they fed of it, the more and better the
grass grew.
9. The eighth mountain was full of fountains, and from those
fountains were watered all kinds of the creatures of God. The
ninth mountain had no water at all, but was wholly destitute of
it and nourished deadly serpents, and was destructive to men.
10. The tenth mountain was full of tall trees and altogether
shady, and under the shade of them lay cattle resting and chewing
the cud.
11. The eleventh mountain was full of the thickest trees, and
those trees seemed to be loaded with several sorts of fruits,
that whoever saw them could not choose but desire to eat of their
fruit.
12. The twelfth mountain was altogether white and of a most
pleasant aspect, which gave it a most excellent beauty.
13. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] In the
middle of the plain he showed me a huge white rock that rose out
of the plain, and the rock was higher than those mountains, and
was square, so that it seemed capable of supporting the whole
world.
14. It looked to me to be old, yet it had in it a new gate, which
seemed to have been newly hewn out in it. Now that gate was
bright beyond the sun itself, so much that I greatly admired at
its light.
15. Around the gate stood twelve virgins, of which four who stood
at the corners of the gate seemed to me to be the chiefest,
although the rest were also of worth.
16. It added also to the grace of those virgins that they stood
in pairs, clothed with linen garments and decently attired, their
right arms being at liberty as if they were about to lift up some
burden, for so they were adorned and exceeding cheerful and ready.
17. When I saw this, I wondered with myself to see such great and
noble things. And again I admired upon the account of those
virgins, that they were so handsome and delicate, and stood with
such firmness and constancy as if they would carry the whole
heaven.
18. And as I was thinking thus within myself, the shepherd said
to me, What are you thinking within yourself to be so disquieted
and filled with care?
19. Do not seem to consider, as if you were wise, what you do not
understand, but pray to the Lord that you may have ability to
understand it. What is to come you cannot understand, but you can
see what is before you.
20. Be not therefore disquieted at those things which you cannot
see, but get the understanding of those which you see.
21. Forbear to be curious, and I will show you all things that I
ought to declare to you; but first consider what yet remains.
22. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] And when he
had said this to me I looked up, and behold I saw six tall and
venerable men coming. Their countenances were all alike, and they
called a certain multitude of men, and they who came at their
call were also tall and stout.
23. And those six commanded them to build a certain tower over
that gate. And immediately there began to be a great noise of
those men who came together to build the tower, running here and
there about the gate.
24. But those virgins who stood about the gate perceived that the
building of the tower was to be hastened by them. And they
stretched out their hands, as if they were to receive something
from them to do.
25. Then those six men commanded that they should lift up stones
out of a certain deep place and prepare them for the building of
the tower. And there were lifted up ten white stones, square and
not cut round.
26. Then those six men called the ten virgins to them and
commanded them to carry all the stones that were to be put into
the building through the gate to deliver them to those that were
about to build the tower.
27. Immediately all the virgins began together to lift up those
stones that had been taken out of the deep.
28. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] And they who
also stood about the gate carried stones in such a manner that
those stones which seemed to be the strongest were laid at the
corners, and the rest were put into the sides.
29. And thus they carried all the stones, bringing them through
the gate and delivering them to the builders, as they had been
commanded. These received them from their hands and built with
them.
30. But this building was made upon that great rock, and over the
gate, and by these the whole tower was supported. The building of
the ten stones filled the whole gate, which began to be made for
the foundation of that tower.
31. After those ten stones, five and twenty others rose up out of
the deep, and these were lifted up by those virgins and placed in
the building of the same tower, as the others had been before.
32. After these five and thirty others rose up, and these were
also in the same way fitted into the same work. Then forty other
stones were brought up, and all these were added to the building
of that tower.
33. So there began to be four ranks in the foundation of that
tower, and the stones ceased to rise out of the deep, and they
who built rested a little.
34. Again those six men commanded the multitude to bring stones
out of those twelve mountains for the building of the same tower.
35. So they cut out of all the mountains stones of different
colors and brought them and gave them to the virgins, who
received them and carried and delivered them into the building of
the tower,
36. In which, when they were built, became white and different
from what they were like before, for now they had changed their
former colors and were all alike. But some were carried up by the
men themselves, and when they came into the building, they
remained just as they were put in.
37. These neither became white nor different from what they were
before, because they were not carried by the virgins through the
gate. For this reason these stones were disagreeable in the
building. When those six men perceived it, they commanded them to
be removed and put again in the place from which they were
brought.
38. And they said to those who brought those stones, Do not reach
up to us any stones for this building, but lay them down by the
tower, so these virgins may carry them and reach them up to us.
39. Do not labor in vain, for unless they will by carried by
these virgins through this gate, they cannot change their colors.
40. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] Although the
building that day was done, the tower was not finished. It was to
be built afterwards, but now there was some delay.
41. And these six men commanded those that built to depart, and
as it were to rest for some time, but they ordered those virgins
that they should not depart from the tower; it seemed to me they
were to be left to guard it.
42. When all were departed, I said to that shepherd, Sir, why is
not the building of the tower finished? He said, Because it
cannot be finished until its Lord comes and approves of the
building, so if he finds any stones in it that are not good, they
may be changed, for this tower is built according to his will.
43. Sir, I said, I would know what the building of this tower
signifies, as also I would be informed concerning this rock, and
this gate.
44. And concerning the mountains, and the virgins, and the stones
that rose out of the deep and were not cut, but put into the
building just as they came forth, and why the ten stones were
first laid in the foundation, then the twenty-five, then thirty-
five, then forty?
45. Also concerning these stones that were put into the building,
and again taken out, and carried back into their place. I pray
you to fulfill the desire of my soul as to all these things and
reveal all to me.
46. And he said to me, If you will not be dull, you will know
all, and will see all the other things that are about to happen
in this tower, and will understand diligently all these
similitudes.
47. And after a few days we came into the same place where we had
sat before, and he said to me, Let us go to the tower, for the
Lord of it will come and examine it.
48. So we went there and found none but those virgins there. And
he asked them whether the Lord of that tower had been there, and
they replied that he would be there presently to examine the
building.
49. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] After a very
little while I saw a great multitude of men coming, and in the
middle of them a man so tall that he surpassed the tower in
greatness.
50. About him were those six who before had given commands for
the building, and all the rest of those who had built that tower,
and many others of great dignity. The virgins who guarded the
tower ran to meet him, and kissed him, and began to walk near to
him.
51. But he examined the building with so much care that he
handled every stone, and struck every one with a rod he held in
his hand.
52. Some being so struck turned black as soot, others were rough,
some looked as if they had cracks in them, others seemed maimed,
some were neither black nor white, some looked sharp, and did not
match with the other stones, and others were full of blemishes.
53. These were the kinds of those stones that were not found
proper in the building; all of which the Lord commanded to be
taken out of the tower and laid near it, and other stones to be
brought and put in their places.
54. And they who built, asked him from which of the mountains he
would have stones brought to replace those that were laid aside.
But he forbad them to bring any from the mountains, and commanded
that they should take some out of a certain field that was near.
55. So they digged in the field and found many bright square
stones, and some also that were round. Nevertheless, all that
were found in that field were taken away, and carried through the
gate by those virgins; and those of them that were square were
fitted and put into the places of those that had been pulled out.
56. But the round ones were not put into the building, because
they were hard, and it would have required too much time to cut
them. But they were placed about the tower, as if they should
later be cut square and put into the building, for they were very
white.
57. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] When he who
was chief in dignity and lord of the whole tower saw this, he
called to him the shepherd who was with me and gave him the
stones that were rejected and laid about the tower, and said to
him, Cleanse these stones with all care, and fit them into the
building of the tower, so that they may agree with the rest; but
those that will not suit with the rest, cast away afar off from
the tower.
58. When he had thus commanded him, he departed with all those
that came with him to the tower; but those virgins still stood
about the tower to guard it.
59. And I said to that shepherd, How can these stones, seeing
they have been rejected, return into the building of this tower?
He replied, I will cut off the greatest part from these stones
and will add them to the building, and they will agree with the
rest.
60. And I said, Sir, how will they be able to fill the same
place, when they will be so much cut away? He answered, They that
will be found too little will be put into the middle of the
building, and the larger will be placed outside to keep them in.
61. When he had said this to me, he added, Let us leave, and
after three days we will return, and I will put these stones,
being cleansed, into the tower.
62. For all these that are around the tower must be cleansed, for
fear the master of the house happens to come suddenly and find
those which are about the tower unclean, and be exasperated
because these stones should never be put into the building of
this tower, and I shall be looked upon to have been unmindful of
my master's commands.
63. When therefore we came after three days to the tower, he said
to me, Let us examine all these stones and see which of them may
go into the building. I answered, Sir, let us see.
64. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] And we began
first of all to consider those which had been black, for they
were found just such as they had been when they were pulled out
of the tower. For this reason he commanded them to be removed
from the tower and put by themselves.
65. Then he examined those which had been rough, and commanded
many of those to be cut round and fitted by the virgins into the
building of the tower. So they took them and fitted them into the
middle of the building; and he commanded the rest to be laid by
with the black ones, for they also were become black.
66. Next he considered those which were full of cracks, and many
of those also he ordered to be pared away, and so to be added to
the rest of the buildings by the same virgins.
67. These were placed outside because they were found undamaged;
but the residue that could not be reformed because of the
multitude of their cracks were therefore cast away from the
building of the tower.
68. Then he considered those that had been maimed: many of these
had cracks and were become black, others had large clefts; these
he commanded to be placed with those that were rejected.
69. But the rest, being cleansed and reformed, he commanded to be
put in the building. These therefore those virgins took up and
fitted into the middle of the building, because they were weak.
70. After these he examined those which were found half white and
half black, and many of those were now black; these also he
ordered to be laid among those that were cast away.
71. The rest were found altogether white; those were taken up by
the virgins because they were found whole, and fitted into the
same tower and put in the outside so they might keep in those
that were placed in the middle, for nothing was cut off from them.
72. Next he looked upon those which had been hard and sharp, but
few of these were made use of, for they were found very hard and
could not be cut. But the rest that were weaker were formed and
fitted by the virgins into the middle of the building.
73. Then he considered those which had spots; a few were found
black and were carried to their fellows. The rest were white and
entire; they were fitted by the virgins into the building and
placed in the outside because of their strength.
74. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] After this
he came to consider those stones which were white and round, and
he said to me, What shall we do with these stones? I answered,
Sir, I cannot tell.
75. He replied, Can you think of nothing then for these? I
answered, Sir, I do not understand this art; neither am I a stone-cutter,
nor can I tell anything.
76. And he said, Do you see that they are very round? Now to make
them square, I must cut off a great deal from them; nevertheless,
it is necessary that some of these should go into the building of
the tower.
77. I answered, If it is necessary, why do you perplex yourself
and not rather choose, if you have any choice among them, and fit
them into the building?
78. Upon this he selected some of the largest and brightest, and
squared them. When he had done this, the virgins took them up and
placed them in the outside of the building.
79. And the rest that remained were carried back into the same
field from which they were taken. Nevertheless, they were not
cast away because, he said, there is still a little lacking to
build this tower, and perhaps the Lord will have these stones
fitted into this building, because they are exceeding white.
80. Then there were called twelve very stately women, clothed
with a black garment, girded with their shoulders free and their
hair loose. These seemed to me to be country women.
81. And the shepherd commanded them to take up those stones which
were cast out of the building, and carry them back to the
mountains out of which they had been taken.
82. And they took them all up joyfully, and carried them back to
their places from where they had been taken.
83. When not one stone remained around the tower, he said to me,
Let us go around this tower and see whether anything is lacking.
84. We began therefore to go round about it, and when he saw that
it was handsomely built, he began to be very glad, for it was so
beautifully framed that anyone who had seen it must have been in
love with the building:
85. No joint appeared anywhere, and it all seemed to be a single
stone, as if it had all been cut out of one rock.
86. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] And when I
diligently considered what a tower it was, I was extremely
pleased. He said to me, Bring some lime and little shells, so I
may fill up the spaces of those stones that were taken out of the
building and put in again; for all things about the tower must be
made even.
87. I did as he commanded me, and he said to me, Be ready to help
me, and this work will quickly be finished.
88. He therefore filled up the spaces of those stones, and
commanded the place about the tower to be cleansed.
89. Then those virgins took brooms of twigs and cleansed all the
place around and took away all the rubbish, and threw water on.
When this was done, the place became delightful, and the tower
beauteous.
90. Then he said to me, All is now clean. If the Lord should come
to finish the tower, he will find nothing to complain of us.
91. When he had said this he would have departed. But I laid hold
on his bag, and began to entreat him for the Lord's sake, that he
would explain to me all things that he had shown me.
92. He said to me, I have now a little business, but I will
suddenly explain all things to you. Wait here for me till I come.
93. I said to him, Sir, what shall I do here alone? He answered,
You are not alone, for all these virgins are with you.
94. I said, Sir, then take me to them. Then he called them and
said to them, I commend this man to you until I shall come.
95. So I remained with those virgins, who now were cheerful and
courteous to me, especially the four who seemed to be the
chiefest among them.
96. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] Then those
virgins said to me, That shepherd will not return today. I said
to them, What then shall I do? They answered, Wait for him till
the evening, if perhaps he may come and speak with you; but if
not, yet you will continue with us till he does come.
97. I said to them, I will wait for him till evening, but if he
does not comes by that time, I will go home and return here again
the next morning.
98. They answered me, You are delivered to us and may not depart
from us. I said, Where shall I stay?
99. They replied, You will sleep with us as a brother, not as a
husband; for you are our brother, and we are ready from now on to
dwell with you, for you are very dear to us.
100. Nevertheless I was ashamed to continue with them. But she
who seemed to be the chiefest among them embraced me and began to
kiss me. And the rest, when they saw I was kissed by her, began
also to kiss me as a brother and lead me about the tower to amuse
me.
101. Some of them sang psalms while others made up the chorus
with them. I walked about the tower with them, rejoicing silently
and seeming to myself to be grown young again.
102. When the evening came on, I would immediately have gone
home, but they did not allow me to depart. Therefore I continued
with them that night near the same tower.
103. They spread their linen garments upon the ground and placed
me in the middle, and did nothing else but pray.
104. I also prayed with them without ceasing, not less than they.
They rejoiced greatly when they saw me pray in that manner, and I
continued there with them till the next day.
105. And when we had worshipped God, then the shepherd came and
said to them, Have you done no injury to this man? They answered,
Ask him. I said to him, Sir, I have received a great deal of
satisfaction by remaining with them.
106. And he said to me, How did you eat? I answered, Sir, I
feasted the whole night upon the words of the Lord. He said, They
received you well then. I said, Sir, very well.
107. He answered, Will you now learn what you desired? I replied,
Sir, I will, but first I pray you to show me all things in the
order that I asked them.
108. He answered, I will do all as you would have me and not hide
anything from you.
109. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] First of
all, Sir, I said, tell me what this rock and this gate denote? He
said, This rock and this gate are the Son of God. I replied, Sir,
how can that be, seeing the rock is old, but the gate new?
110. He said, Hear, O foolish man, and understand. The Son of God
is indeed more ancient than any creature, so much so that he was
in council with his Father at the creation of all things.
111. But the gate is therefore new, because he appeared in the
last days in the fullness of time, so that they who will attain
to salvation may by it enter into the kingdom of God.
112. You have seen, he said, those stones which were carried
through the gate, how they were placed in the building of the
tower, but those that were not carried through the gate were sent
away into their own places?
113. I answered, Sir, I saw it. Accordingly, he said, no man will
enter into the kingdom of God but he who will take upon him the
name of the Son of God.
114. For if you would enter into any city and that city was
encompassed by a wall with only one gate, could you enter into
that city except by that gate?
115. I answered, Sir, how could I do otherwise? As therefore, he
said, there would be no other way of entering into that city but
by its gate, so neither can anyone enter into the kingdom of God,
but only by the name of his Son, who is most dear to him.
116. And he said to me, Did you see the multitude of those who
built that tower? Sir, I said, I saw it. He answered, All those
are the angels, venerable in their dignity.
117. With those is the Lord encompassed as with a wall; but the
gate is the Son of God, who is the only way of coming to God. For
no man will go to God, but by his Son.
118. You saw also, he said, the six men, and in the middle of
them that venerable great man who walked about the tower and
rejected the stones out of the tower?
119. Sir, I said, I saw them. He answered, That tall man was the
Son of God, and those six were his angels of most eminent
dignity, who stand about him on the right hand and on the left.
120. None of these excellent angels comes in to God without him.
He added, Whoever therefore will not take upon him his name, he
will not enter into the kingdom of God.
121. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] Then I
said, What is this tower? This, he said, is the Church. And what,
Sir, are these virgins? He said to me, These are the holy
spirits, for no man can enter into the kingdom of God, except
these clothe him with their garment.
122. For it will avail you nothing to take up the name of the Son
of God, unless you will also receive their garment from them. For
these virgins are the powers of the Son of God. So will a man in
vain bear his name, unless he will be also endued with his powers.
123. And he said to me, Did you see those stones that were cast
away? They bore indeed the name, but put not on their garment. I
said, Sir, what is their garment? Their very names, he said, are
their garment.
124. Therefore whoever bears the name of the Son of God ought to
bear their names also; for the Son of God also himself bears
their names.
125. He continued, As for those stones delivered by their hands,
which you saw remain in the building, they were clothed with
their power; this is why you see the whole tower of the same
color with the rock and made as if it were one stone.
126. So also those who have believed in God by his Son, have put
on his spirit. Behold there will be one spirit, and one body, and
one color of their garments; and all will attain this, who will
bear the names of these virgins.
127. And I said, Sir, why then were those stones that were
rejected cast away, seeing they also were carried through the
gate and delivered by the hands of these virgins into the
building of this tower?
128. He said, Seeing you take care to inquire diligently into all
things, hear also concerning those stones which were rejected.
All these received the name of the Son of God, and with that the
power of these virgins.
129. Having therefore received these spirits, they were perfected
and brought into the number of the servants of God; and they
began to be one body and to have one garment, for they were
endued with the same righteousness, which they alike exercised.
130. But after they beheld those women whom you saw clothed with
a black garment, with their shoulders at liberty and their hair
loose, they fixed their desires upon them, being tempted with
their beauty; and were clothed with their power, and cast off the
clothing of the virgins:
131. Therefore they were cast off from the house of God and
delivered to those women. But they who were not corrupted with
their beauty, remained in the house of God. This, he said, is the
significance of those stones that were rejected.
132. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] And I said,
Sir, what if any of these men will repent, and cast away their
desire of those women, and be converted, and return to these
virgins, and put on again their virtue, will they not enter into
the house of God?
133. They will enter, he said, if they will lay aside all the
works of those women, and will resume the power of these virgins
and will walk in their works.
134. And this is why there is a stop in the building, so that if
they will repent, they may be added to the building of this
tower; but if they will not repent, others may be built in their
places, and so they may be utterly cast away.
135. For all these things I gave thanks to the Lord, that being
moved with mercy towards all those upon whom his name is called,
he sent to us the angel of repentance to preside over us who have
sinned against him; and that he has refreshed our spirits which
were almost gone, and who had no hope of salvation but are now
refreshed to the renewal of life.
136. Then I said, Show me now, Sir, why this tower is not built
upon the ground, but upon a rock and upon the gate? He replied,
You ask this because you are foolish and without understanding.
137. And I said, Sir, I need to ask all things of you, because I
understand nothing at all. For all your answers are great and
excellent, but which a man can hardly understand.
138. Hear, he said. The name of the Son of God is great and
limitless, and the whole world is supported by it. If therefore
every creature of God is sustained by his Son, why should he not
support those also who have been invited by him, and who carry
his name, and walk in his commandments?
139. Do you not see, he said, that he does support them who with
all their heart bear his name? He therefore is their foundation
and gladly supports those who do not deny his name, but willingly
bear it.
140. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] And I said,
Sir, tell me the names of these virgins and of those women that
were clothed with the black garment.
141. Hear, he said, the names of those virgins who are the more
powerful and stand at the corners of the gate. These are their
names:
142. The first is called Faith, the second Continence, the third
Power, the fourth Patience; the who are under these are
Simplicity, Innocence, Chastity, Cheerfulness, Truth,
Understanding, Concord, and Charity.
143. Whoever therefore bears these names, and the name of the Son
of God, will enter into the kingdom of God.
144. Hear now, he said, the names of those women, which were
clothed with the black garment. Of these, four are the principal:
the first is Perfidity, the second Incontinence, the third
Infidelity, and the fourth Pleasure.
145. And the rest which follow are called: Sadness, Malice, Lust,
Anger, Lying, Foolishness, Pride, and Hatred. The servant of God
who carries these spirits will see indeed the kingdom of God, but
he will not enter into it.
146. But, Sir, what are those stones that were taken out of the
deep and fitted into the building? The ten, he said, which were
placed at the foundation are the first age; the following five
and twenty, the second, are righteous men.
147. The next thirty-five are the prophets and ministers of the
Lord, and the forty are the Apostles and doctors of the preaching
of the Son of God.
148. And I said, Sir, why did the virgins put even those stones
into the building after they were carried through the gate? And
he said, Because these first carried the spirits, and they
departed not one from the one, neither the men from the spirits,
nor the spirits from the men:
149. But the spirits were joined to these men even to the day of
their death, and if they had not had these spirits with them,
they could not have been useful to the building of this tower.
150. And I said, Sir, show me more about this. He answered, What
do you ask? Why did these stones come out of the deep and were
placed into the building of this tower, seeing that long ago they
carried those holy spirits.
151. It was necessary, he said, for them to ascend by water so
they might be at rest. For they could not otherwise enter into
the kingdom of God, except by laying aside the mortality of their
former life.
152. Even though they were dead, they were nevertheless sealed
with the seal of the Son of God, and so entered into the kingdom
of God.
153. For before a man receives the name of the Son of God, he is
ordained to death; but when he receives that seal, he is freed
from death and assigned to life.
154. Now that seal is the water of baptism into which men go down
under the obligation to death, but come up appointed to life.
155. For that reason, to those also was this seal preached, and
they made use of it so they might enter the kingdom of God.
Compare 1 Peter 3:19
156. And I said, Why then, Sir, did these
forty stones also ascend with them out of the deep, having
already received that seal?
157. He answered, Because these Apostles and teachers who
preached the name of the Son of God, dying after they had
received his faith and power, preached to them who had died
before and they this seal to them.
158. Therefore they went down into the water with them, and again
came up. But these went down while they were alive, and came up
again alive; whereas those who were before dead, went down dead,
but came up alive;
159. Through these therefore they received life and knew the Son
of God. For this reason they came up with them and were fit to
come into the building of the tower uncut and put in whole,
because they died in righteousness and in great purity; only this
seal was lacking to them.
160. Here you have the explication of these things.
161. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] I answered,
Sir, tell me now what concerns those mountains, why are they so
different, some of one form and some of another.
162. Hear, he said. These twelve mountains you see are twelve
nations, which make up the whole world. Therefore the Son of God
is preached to them by those whom he sent to them.
163. I said, But why are they different and every one a symbol?
He replied, Pay attention. These twelve nations that possess the
whole world are twelve people.
164. And as you have beheld these mountains different, so are
they. I will therefore open to you the meaning and actions of
every mountain.
165. But first, Sir, I said, seeing these mountains are so
different, show me how have they conformed into the building of
this tower, and been brought to one color, and are no less bright
than those that came out of the deep?
166. Because, he replied, all the nations which are under heaven
have heard and believed in the same one name of the Son of God by
whom they are called.
167. So having received his seal, they have all been made
partakers of the same understanding and knowledge; and their
faith and charity have been the same, and they have carried the
spirits of these virgins together with his name.
168. And therefore the building of this tower appeared to be of
the same color and shone like the brightness of the sun.
169. After they had thus agreed in one mind there began to be one
body of them all; however, some of them polluted themselves and
were cast off from the kind of the righteous, and again returned
to their former state and became even worse than they were before.
170. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] I said,
Sir, how were they who knew the Lord worse? He answered, If he
who does not know the Lord lives wickedly, the punishment of his
wickedness accompanies him.
171. For he who has known the Lord ought to abstain altogether
from all wickedness, and more and more to be the servant of
righteousness.
172. Does not he who ought to follow goodness, if he will prefer
the part of sin, seem to you to sin more than he who offends
without knowing the power of God?
173. For this reason these are indeed ordained to death; but they
who have known the Lord and have seen his wonderful works, if
they will live wickedly, they will be doubly punished and will
die forever.
174. You have seen after the stones that had been rejected were
cast out of the tower, they were delivered to wicked and cruel
spirits, and you beheld the tower so cleansed as if it all had
been made of one stone.
175. So the church of God, when it will be purified (the wicked
and counterfeits, the mischievous and doubtful, and all who have
behaved themselves wickedly in it and committed various kinds of
sin, being cast out) will become one body, and there will be one
understanding, one opinion, one faith, and the same charity.
176. And then will the Son of God rejoice among them and will
receive his people with a pure will.
177. And I said, Sir, all these things are great and honorable,
but now show to me the effect and force of every mountain, so
that when every soul that trusts in the Lord hears these things,
it may honor his great, wonderful, and holy name.
178. Hear, he said, the variety of these mountains, that is, of
the twelve nations.
179. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] They who
have believed of the first mountain, which is black, are those
who have revolted from the faith and spoken wicked things against
the Lord, and betrayed the servants of God.
180. These are condemned to death, so there is no repentance for
them; therefore they are black because their kind is wicked.
181. Of the second mountain, which was smooth, are the hypocrites
who have believed, and the teachers of vulgarity; these are next
to the foregoing, which have not in them the fruit of
righteousness.
182. For as their mountain is barren and without fruit, so also
such kind of men have indeed the name of Christians, but are
empty of faith; nor is there any fruit of the truth in them.
183. Nevertheless is room left to them for repentance, if they
will suddenly pursue it; but if they will delay, they also will
be partakers of death with the foregoing kind.
184. I said, Sir, why is room left for repentance to those, and
not to the foregoing kind, seeing their sins are practically the
same?
185. There is to these therefore, he said, a return to life by
repentance because they have not blasphemed against their Lord
nor betrayed the servants of God, but have deceived men by their
desire of gain, leading them according to the lusts of sinners;
this is why they will suffer for this.
186. However there is still left them room for repentance,
because they have not spoken any thing wickedly against the Lord.
187. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] They of the
third mountain, which had thorns and brambles, are those who
believed, but some of them were rich and others taken up with
many affairs. The brambles are their riches; the thorns are those
affairs in which they were engaged.
188. They who are entangled in much business and in diversity of
affairs do not associate themselves with the servants of God, but
wander, being called away by those affairs with which they are
choked.
189. And so they who are rich yield themselves with difficulty to
the manner of life of the servants of God, fearing anything
should be asked of them. These therefore will hardly enter into
the kingdom of God.
190. For as men walk with difficulty barefoot over thorns, even
so these kind of men will scarcely enter into the kingdom of God.
191. Nevertheless there is afforded to all these a return to
repentance if they will quickly return to it, because in their
former days they have neglected to do spiritual, but in the
future they may do some good.
192. If they will do the works of righteousness after repenting,
they will live; but if they will continue in their evil courses,
they will be delivered to those women who will take away their
life.
193. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] As for the
fourth mountain, which had many herbs, the upper part of which is
green but the roots dry, and some of which being touched with the
heat of the sun are withered:
194. It denotes the doubtful who have believed, and some others
who carry the Lord in their tongues but do not have him in their
heart. Their grass is dry and without root because they live only
in words, but their works are dead.
195. These therefore are neither dead nor living, but are
doubtful. For the doubtful are neither green nor dry, that is,
neither dead nor alive.
196. For as the herbs dry away at the sight of the sun, so as
soon as the doubtful hear of persecution and fear inconveniences,
they return to their idols and again serve them, and are ashamed
to bear the name of their Lord.
197. This kind of men then is neither dead nor alive;
nevertheless these also may live, if they will presently repent;
but if not, they will be delivered to those women who will take
away their life.
198. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] As
concerning the fifth mountain, which is craggy and yet has green
grass, they are of this kind who have believed and are faithful
indeed, but believe with difficulty and are bold and self-
conceited, and want others to think they know all things, but
really know nothing.
199. By reason of this confidence, knowledge is departed from
them, and a rash presumption is entered into them.
200. But they carry themselves high like prudent men, and though
they are fools, yet would seem to be teachers.
201. Now by reason of this folly many of them, while they magnify
themselves, are become vain and empty. For boldness and vain
confidence is a very evil spirit.
202. Many of these are cast away, but others acknowledging their
error have repented and submitted themselves to those who are
knowing.
203. And to all the rest of this kind there is repentance
allowed, forasmuch as they were not so much wicked as foolish and
void of understanding.
204. If these therefore will repent, they will live to God; but
if not, they will dwell with those women who will exercise their
wickedness upon them.
205. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] For what
concerns the sixth mountain, which had greater and lesser clefts,
they are such as have believed; but those in which were lesser
clefts are they who have had controversies among themselves, and
by reason of their quarrels languish in the faith;
206. Nevertheless many of these have repented, and so will the
rest when they will hear my commands; for their controversies are
but small, and they will easily return to repentance.
207. But those who have the greater clefts will be as stiff
stones, mindful of grudges and offenses, and full of anger among
themselves. These therefore are cast from the tower and refused
to be put into its building; for this kind of men will hardly
live.
208. Our God and Lord, who rules over all things and has power
over all his creatures, will not remember our offenses, but is
easily appeased by those who confess their sins; but man being
languid, mortal, infirm, and full of sins, perseveres in his
anger against man, as if it were in his power to save or destroy
him.
209. But I, as the angel who am set over your repentance,
admonish you that whoever among you has any such purpose should
lay it aside and return to repentance, and the Lord will heal
your former sins, if you will purge yourselves from this evil
spirit. But if you will not do it, you will be delivered to him
to death.
210. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] As for the
seventh mountain, in which the grass was green and flourishing,
and the whole mountain faithful, and all kind of cattle fed upon
the grass of it, and the more the grass was eaten so much the
more it flourished,
211. They are such as believed and were always good and upright,
and without any differences among themselves, but still rejoiced
in the servants of God, having put on the spirit of these virgins
and been always eager to show mercy to all men, readily giving to
all men of their labors without upbraiding or deliberation.
212. Therefore the Lord, seeing their simplicity and innocence,
has increased them in the works of their hands and given them
grace in all their works.
213. But I, who am the angel appointed over your repentance,
exhort you that as many as are of this kind would continue in the
same purpose, so that your offspring may not be rooted out
forever.
214. For the Lord has tested you and written you into our number,
and all your descendants will dwell with the Son of God, for you
are all of his spirit.
215. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] As
concerning the eighth mountain, in which were a great many
springs by which every kind of all the creatures of God was
watered, they are such as have believed the Apostles whom the
Lord sent into all the world to preach.
216. And some of them being teachers have preached and taught
purely and sincerely, and have not in the least yielded to any
evil desires, but have constantly walked in righteousness and
truth.
217. These therefore have their conversations among the angels.
218. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] Again, as
for what concerns the ninth mountain, which is desert and full of
serpents, they are such as have believed but had many stains.
219. These are such ministers as discharge their ministry amiss,
seizing and carrying away the goods of the widows and fatherless,
and serve themselves, not others, out of those things they have
received.
220. These, if they continue in this covetousness, have delivered
themselves to death, nor will there be any hope of life for them.
But if they will be converted and will discharge their ministry
sincerely, they may live.
221. As for those which were found rough, they are such as have
denied the name of the Lord and not returned again to the Lord,
but have become savage and wild, not applying themselves to the
servants of God but, being separated from them, have for a little
carelessness lost their lives.
222. For as a vine that is forsaken in a hedge and never dressed,
perishes and is choked by the weeds, and in time becomes wild and
ceases to be useful to its lord, so this kind of men, despairing
of themselves and being soured, have begun to be unprofitable to
their Lord.
223. Yet to these there is, after all, repentance allowed, if
they will not be found from their hearts to have denied Christ;
but if any of these will be found to have denied him from his
heart, I cannot tell whether such a one can attain to life.
224. I say therefore that if any one has denied, he should in
these days return to repentance, for it cannot be that anyone who
now denies the Lord can afterwards attain to salvation;
nevertheless repentance is proposed to them who have formerly
denied.
225. But he who will repent must hurry his repentance before the
building of this tower is finished; otherwise he will be
delivered by those women to death.
226. But they that are maimed are the deceitful and those who mix
with one another; these are the serpents you saw mingled in that
mountain.
227. For as the poison of serpents is deadly to men, so the words
of such persons infect and destroy men. They are therefore maimed
in their faith by reason of that kind of life they lead.
228. However some of them, having repented, have been saved, and
so will others of the same kind also be saved if they will
repent; but if not, they will die by those women whose power and
force they possess.
229. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] For what
concerns the tenth mountain, in which were the trees covering the
cattle, they are such as have believed, and some of them have
been bishops, that is, governors of the churches.
230. Others are such stones as have not feignedly, but with a
cheerful mind entertained the servants of God.
231. Then such as have been set over inferior ministries and have
protected the poor and the widows, and have always kept a chaste
conversation; therefore they also are protected by the Lord.
232. Those who do like this are honored with the Lord, and their
place is among the angels, if they will continue to obey the Lord
even to the end.
233. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] As to the
eleventh mountain, in which were trees loaded with several sorts
of fruits, they are such as have believed and suffered death for
the name of the Lord, and have endured with a ready mind and
given up their lives with all their hearts.
234. And I said, Why then, Sir, have all these fruit indeed, but
yet some are fairer than others?
235. Pay attention, he said. Whoever suffered for the name of the
Lord are esteemed honorable by the Lord, and all their offenses
are blotted out because they have suffered death for the name of
the Son of God.
236. Hear now, why their fruits are different, and some of them
excel others. They who, being brought before magistrates and
being asked, denied not the Lord but suffered with a ready mind,
these are more honorable with the Lord. The fairest fruits
therefore are these.
237. But they who were fearful and doubtful and have deliberated
with themselves whether they should confess or deny Christ, and
yet have suffered, their fruits are smaller because this thought
came into their hearts.
238. For it is a wicked and evil thought for a servant to
deliberate whether he should deny his master. Take heed therefore
you who have such thoughts that this mind does not continue in
you, and you die to God.
239. But you who suffer death for his name's sake ought to honor
the Lord that he has esteemed you worthy to bear his name, and
that you should be delivered from all your sins.
240. And why therefore do you not rather esteem yourselves happy?
Yes, think truly that if anyone among you suffers, he performs a
great work! For the Lord gives you life, and you do not
understand it. For your offenses did oppress you, and if you had
not suffered for his name's sake, you would now be dead to the
Lord.
241. For this reason I speak this to you who deliberate whether
you should confess or deny him. Confess that you have the Lord
for your God, for fear that at any time denying him, you will be
delivered not merely to bonds.
242. All nations punish their servants who deny their masters, so
what do you think the Lord who has the power of all things will
do to you?
243. Therefore remove these doubts out of your hearts, so that
you may live forever to God.
244. As for the twelfth mountain, which was white, they are such
as have believed like sincere children into whose thought there
never came any malice, nor have they ever known what sin was, but
have always continued in their integrity.
245. So this kind of men without all doubt will inherit the
kingdom of God, because they have never in anything defiled the
commandments of God, but have continued with sincerity in the
same condition all the days of their life.
246. Whoever therefore, he said, will continue as children
without malice will be more honorable than all those of whom I
have yet spoken; for all such children are honored by the Lord
and esteemed the first of all.
247. Happy therefore are you who will remove all malice from you
and put on innocence, because you will first see the Lord.
248. And after he had thus ended his explication of all the
mountains, I said to him, Sir, show me now also what concerns the
stones that were brought out of the plain and put into the tower
in the place of those that were rejected;
249. As also concerning those round stones that were added into
the building of the tower, and also of those who still continued
round.
250. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] Hear now,
he said, concerning those stones which were brought out of the
plain into the building of the tower and placed in the room of
those that were rejected; they are the roots of that white
mountain.
251. Because those who have believed of that mountain were very
innocent, the Lord of this tower commanded that they which were
of the roots of this mountain should be placed into the building.
252. For he knew if they were put into this building they would
continue bright, nor would any of them any more be made black.
253. But if he had added from the rest of the mountains in this
manner, he would almost have needed again to visit the tower and
to cleanse it.
254. Now all these white stones are the young men who have
believed, or will believe; for they are all of the same kind.
Happy is this kind, because it is innocent.
255. Hear now also concerning those round and bright stones. All
these are of this white mountain, but they are found round
because their riches have a little darkened them from the truth
and dazzled their eyes:
256. They nevertheless have never departed from the Lord, nor has
any wicked word proceeded out of their mouths, but all
righteousness, and virtue, and truth.
257. When therefore the Lord saw their mind, and that they might
adorn the truth, he commanded that they should continue good, and
that their riches should be pared away.
258. For he would not have them taken wholly away, because they
might do some good with that which was left, and live to God, for
they also are of a good kind.
259. Therefore there was a little cut off from them, and so they
were put into the building of this tower.
260. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] As for the
rest which continued still round and were not found fit for the
building of this tower because they have not yet received the
seal, they were carried back to their place because they were
found very round.
261. But this present world the vanities of their riches must be
cut away from them, and then they will be fit for the kingdom of
God. For they must enter into the kingdom of God, because God has
blessed this innocent kind.
262. Of this kind therefore none will fall away; if any of them
become tempted by the devil and should offend, he will soon
return to his Lord God.
263. I the angel of repentance esteem you happy, whoever are
innocent as little children, because your portion is good and
honorable with the Lord.
264. And I say to all you who have received his seal: keep
simplicity and remember not the offenses which are committed
against you, nor continue in malice or bitterness through the
memory of offenses.
265. But become one spirit, and provide remedies for these evil
rifts and remove them from you so that the lord of the sheep may
rejoice at it; for he will rejoice, if he will find all whole.
266. Woe will be to the shepherds if any of these sheep will be
found scattered away. But and if the shepherds themselves will be
scattered, what will they answer to the lord of the sheepfold?
Will they say that they were troubled by the sheep? They will not
be believed.
267. For it is an incredible thing that the shepherd should
suffer because of his flock; he will be punished more for his lie.
268. Now I am the shepherd, and I must especially give an account
of you.
269. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] For this
reason take care of yourselves while the tower is yet building.
The Lord dwells in those that love peace, for peace is beloved;
but he is far off from the contentious and those who are full of
malice.
270. Therefore restore to him the spirit as entire as you
received it. For if you will give a new and whole garment to one
who shrinks and thickens woolen cloth by moistening and pressing,
you will expect to receive it whole again; if therefore he will
restore it to you torn, would you receive it?
271. Would you not be angry and reproach him, saying, I gave my
garment to you whole; why have you rent it, and made it useless
to me? Now it is of no use to me, by reason of the rent which you
have made in it. Would you not say all this to such a person, for
the rent which he made in your garment?
272. If therefore you would be concerned for your garment and
complain that you had not received it whole, what do you think
that the Lord will do, who gave his Spirit to you entire, and you
have rendered him altogether unprofitable so that he can be of no
use to his Lord? For being corrupted by you, he is no longer
profitable to him.
273. Will not therefore the Lord do the same concerning his
Spirit, by reason of your deed? I say he undoubtedly will do the
same to all those whom he will find to continue in the
remembrance of injuries.
274. Tread not then under foot, he said, his mercy; but rather
honor him because he is so patient with respect to your offenses,
and not like one of you; but repent, for that will be profitable
for you.
275. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] All these
things which are above written, I the shepherd, the angel of
repentance, have shown and spoken to the servants of God.
276. If therefore you will believe and pay attention to these
words, and will walk in them, and will correct your ways, you
will live. But if you will continue in malice and in the
remembrance of injuries, no such sinners will live to God.
277. All these things that were to be spoken by me I have thus
delivered to you. Then the shepherd said to me, Have you asked
all things of me? I answered, Sir, I have.
278. Why, then, he said, have you not asked concerning the spaces
of these stones that were put in the building, that I may explain
that also to you? I answered, Sir, I forgot it. Hear, then he
said, concerning these also.
279. They are those who have now heard these commands and have
repented with all their hearts.
280. And when the Lord saw that their repentance was good and
pure, and that they could continue in it, he commanded their
former sins to be blotted out. For these spaces were their sins,
and they are therefore made even that they might not appear.
Here is a summary of this lengthy and complex passage:
The twelve mountains are the "twelve nations that make up the whole world," or representative of those peoples who have heard the Gospel and professed to believe. The following is the description of the "mountains" and interpretation of each:
1. black as soot: those who revolted from the faith, betrayed the servants of God, and spoke wicked things against the Lord. No repentance is possible.
2. smooth, without herbs: hypocrites, profligates, and teachers of vulgarity, who have no fruit of righteousness in them. Repentance is possible for them.
3. full of thorns and thistles: rich and entangled in many affairs, with no time to live as a servant of God. Repentance is offered.
4. herbs half dried, with upper part green, but some dry near the roots: doubting believers, professing with their mouths, but not their deeds. Repentance is possible.
5. rugged, but with green herbs: those who believe with difficulty because of their vain conceit, but desire to be teachers without knowing anything. Repentance is possible.
6. full of clefts, in which some withering grass grew: believers who have controversies and quarrels among themselves. Repentance is possible.
7. delightful pasture and wholly fruitful, where the more cattle and birds ate, the better the grass grew: believers who were always good, without differences among themselves. They need no repentance if the continue as they are.
8. full of fountains, which were full of living creatures: believers who constantly obeyed the Apostles in all things. They "have their conversations among the angels."
9. destitute of water, inhabited by poisonous serpents: wayward ministers who are covetous and serve themselves rather than others. Repentance is possible.
10. full of tall, shady trees, under which cattle rested and chewed the cud: the especially faithful bishops, priests, and deacons.
11. full of thick trees full of delectable fruits: believers who have suffered for the Lord and remained faithful unto death.
12. altogether white and majestically beautiful: those who have believed like children and continued in childlike simplicity and innocence.
The white rock with a bright new gate in the plain that rose higher than the mountains: the ancient rock represents the pre-existent Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity. The new gate represents the Son of God in his earthly ministry.
The twelve virgins who stood around the gate, ten of whom took stones through the gate to build the tower, are "holy spirits" or the powers of the Son of God, named Faith, Continence, Power, Patience, Simplicity, Innocence, Chastity, Cheerfulness, Truth, Understanding, Concord, and Charity.
The six tall men are angels of eminent dignity who stand on the right and left hand of the Son of God); the multitude of strong men they commanded to build the tower are other venerable angels.
The ten stones used first in the building of the tower are "the first age," presumably the righteous of the Old Testament; the next twenty-five stones are simply called "righteous men"; the next thirty-five stones are prophets and ministers of the Lord; the next forty stones are Apostles and doctors (teachers) of the preaching of the Son of God.
The following is a brief recapitulation of the actions taken in building the tower (Church):
The six men (eminent angels) command the multitude (other venerable angels) to cut colored stones (professing Christians) out of the mountains (nations or peoples), which become white and fit perfectly if carried by the virgins (the powers or virtues of the Son of God), but stayed the same color when handled by the multitude (angels). The virgins (the Christian virtues) did not carry those through the gate. The six men (angels) command the multitude (other angels) to return the stones (professing believers) to the mountains (place of their origin), and from now on bring stones (professing believers) for the virgins (the Christian virtues) to handle.
The process of building the tower (Church) is delayed until the Lord of the tower approves what was done; the virgins (Christian virtues) guard the tower (Church).
The Lord comes with the six (eminent angels) and others (angels) of great dignity, with the multitude of (angelic) workers. He is greeted by the virgins (Christian virtues). He strikes each stone (professing believers) with a rod (of revelatory judgment). Some stones (professing believers) turned (symbolically) black, some of mixed color (maimed), some did not match but were full of blemishes. These stones are laid near the tower, and others brought to replace them, but not from the mountains, but from a field (the root of the white mountain of innocent believers). Some of these are square and fitted perfectly into the building to replace those which had been removed. Some from the field were white but round (innocent believers slightly contaminated by riches, which must be pared away) and not put in the building. These were cleansed and fitted, but those that did not agree with the others were carried far from the tower.
The Shepherd (of repentance) is to cut these stones (professing believers) to fit, even the small ones will be used in the middle of the building to hold the others in place. After three days, he examines them all.
Black (unrepentant) ones removed from the tower (Church) that are still black (unrepentant), he puts together in one place. Rough ones that had been removed were cut to fit (repented), but some had become black (unrepentant) and were put with those.
Those cracked (defective believers) were pared away (submitted to repentance) and put into the tower (Church) on the outside. Others that could not be pared away (not submitting to repentance) were cast away.
Those that had large clefts (irremediable defects) or had become black (unrepentant) were cast away, but those that were cleansed (by repentance) were put into the middle of the building (Church) because they were weak.
Some of those that were both black and white (good and bad) had become all black (unrepentant), others all white (repentant). The former were cast away, the latter were put in the building. (The same is done with hard and sharp stones.)
The white and round stones (innocent believers tempted by riches) were cut away and squared (disciplined by repentance and made fit); those who remained big (innocent after repentance) were built into the tower (Church), the others were taken back to the field from which they had come. Since they were exceedingly white (still innocent), they were kept in case they were needed to finish the tower (Church).
All rejected stones (professing believers who did not repent) were given to twelve stately women dressed in black (Perfidity, Incontinence, Infidelity, Pleasure, Sadness, Malice, Lust, Anger, Lying, Foolishness, Pride, and Hatred), who returned them to the mountains (populations of the earth) from which they had come.
Lime and small shells are used to finish the building (Church) and make it smooth. (The spaces were the past sins of the repentant, now erased by God and made not to appear.) Then the site is swept, the building is washed and becomes beauteous.
(The Shepherd then left Hermas in care of the twelve virgins (Christian virtues), then returned to explain the symbolisms given above.)
SIMILITUDE 10
Of repentance and alms-deeds.
1. After I had written this book, the angel
who had delivered me to that shepherd, came into the house where
I was and sat upon the bed, and that shepherd stood at his right
hand.
2. Then he called me and said to me, I delivered you and your
house to this shepherd, so that you might be protected by him. I
said, Yes, Lord.
3. He said, If therefore you will be protected from all vexations
and from all cruelty, and have success in every good word and
work, and have all virtue and righteousness, walk in those
commands he has given you, and you will have dominion over all
sin.
4. For if you keep those commands, all the lust and pleasures of
this present world will be subject to you, and success will
follow you in every good undertaking.
5. Take therefore his maturity and modesty towards you, and say
to all that he is in great honor and renown with God, and is a
prince of great authority and powerful in his office.
6. To him only is the power of repentance committed throughout
the whole world. Does he not seem to you to be of great
authority?
7. But you despise his goodness and the modesty he shows towards
you.
8. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] I said to
him, Sir, ask him since the time that he came into my house
whether I have done any thing disorderly, or have offended him in
any thing?
9. I know, he said, that you have done nothing disorderly,
neither will you from now on do any such thing. Therefore I speak
these things with you so that you may persevere, for he has given
me a good account concerning you.
10. But you must speak these things to others so they who either
have repented, or will repent, may be like-minded with you, so
that he may give me as good an account of them also, and I may do
the same to the Lord.
11. I answered, Sir, I declare to all men the wonderful works of
God, and I hope that all who love them and have before sinned,
when they will hear these things, will repent and recover life.
12. Continue therefore, he said, in this ministry and fulfill it.
And whoever will do according to the commands of this shepherd,
he will live and have great honor both here and with the Lord.
13. But they who will not keep his commands, flee from their life
and are adversaries to it. And they that follow not his commands,
will deliver themselves to death and will be every one guilty of
his own blood.
14. But I say to you, keep these commandments, and you will find
a cure for all your sins.
15. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] Moreover, I
have sent these virgins to dwell with you, for I have seen that
they are very kind to you. You will therefore have them for your
helpers, so that you may the better keep the commands which he
has given you; for these commands cannot be kept without these
virgins.
16. And I see how they are willing to be with you, and I will
also command them that they will not all depart from your house.
17. Only purify your house, for they will readily dwell in a
clean house. For they are clean and chaste and industrious, and
all of them have grace with the Lord.
18. If therefore you will have your house pure, they will abide
with you. But if it will be ever so little polluted, they will
immediately depart from your house, for these virgins cannot
endure any manner of pollution.
19. I said to him, Sir, I hope that I shall so please them that
they will always delight to dwell in my house. And as he to whom
you have committed me makes no complaint of me, so neither will
they complain.
20. Then he said to that shepherd, I see that the servant of God
will live and keep these commandments, and place these virgins in
a pure habitation.
21. When he had said this, he delivered me again to that shepherd
and called the virgins, and said to them, I see that you will
readily dwell in this man's house, so I commend him and his house
to you, so that you may not at all depart from his house. And
they willingly heard these words.
22. [New paragraph in the oldest extant manuscripts] Then he said
to me, Go on manfully in your ministry. Declare to all men the
great things of God, and you will find grace in this ministry.
23. And whoever will walk in these commands will live and be
happy in his life. But he that will neglect them will not live,
and will be unhappy in his life.
24. Say to all who can do well, not to cease exercising
themselves in good works, for it is profitable to them. For I
would that all men should be delivered from the inconveniences
they lie under.
25. For he who lacks and suffers inconveniences in his daily life
is in great torment and necessity. Whoever delivers such a soul
from necessity gets great joy to himself.
26. For he who is grieved with such inconveniences is just as
equally tormented as if he were in chains. And many upon the
account of such calamities, being not able to bear them, have
chosen even to destroy themselves.
Evidently this is a very compassionate reference to some suicides.
27. He therefore who knows the calamity of
such a man and does not free him from it, commits a great sin and
is guilty of his blood.
28. For this reason, as many as have received ability from the
Lord, exercise yourselves in good works, for fear that while you
delay to do them, the building of the tower be finished; because
for your sakes the building is stopped.
That is, the Church is not yet completed.
29. Except therefore you will make haste to
do well, the tower will be finished, and you will be shut out of
it.
30. And after that he had thus spoken with me, he rose up from
the bed and departed, taking the shepherd and the virgins with
him.
31. However, he said to me that he would send back the shepherd
and virgins into my house. Amen.
Despite its overwhelming abundance of symbolism, the trilogy called the Shepherd of Hermas is not really about visions of angels, towers, mountains, stones, virgins, etc. We should be mindful that it actually deals with the types of people who seek salvation, and the faith, virtue, and sanctity they must acquire to overcome vice, weakness, and the vexations of life.
The writings of Hermas thus treat vividly the all- important themes of redemption through Christ, the purity of the Church, and the spiritual struggles of those who aspire to righteousness.
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