ble Revelations than those which thou hast already received ?

115 I answered and said unto him, Sir, I only ask this one thing upon the account of the three figures of the old woman that appeared to me, that the Revelation may be complete.

116 He answered me, You are not without understanding, but your doubts make you so; forasmuch as you have not your heart with the Lord.

117 I replied and said, But we shall learn these things more carefully from you.

118 Hear then, says he, concerning the figures about which you inquire.

119 And first, in the first vision she appeared to thee in the shape of an old woman sitting in achair, because your old spirit was decayed, and without strength, by reason of your infirmities, and the doubtfulness of your heart.

120 For as they who are old have no hope of renewing themselves, nor expect any thing but their departure; so you being weakened through your worldly affairs gave yourself up to sloth, and cast not away your solicitude from yourself upon the Lord: and your sense was confused, and you grow old in your sadness.

of reprobates.

124 When any one grows old, he despairs of himself by reason of his infirmity and poverty, and expects nothing but the last day of his life.

125 But on a sudden an inheritance is left to him, and he hears of it, and rises; and being become cheerful, he puts on new strength. And now he no longer sits down, but stands, and is delivered from his former sorrow; and sits not, but acts manfully.

126 So you, having heard the Revelation which God revealed unto you, because God had compassion upon you, and renewed your spirit, both laid aside your infirmities, and strength came to you, and you grow strong in the faith; and God, seeing your strength, rejoiced.

127 For this cause he shewed you the building of the tower, and will shew other things unto you, if you shall have peace with all your heart among each other.

128 But in the third vision you saw her yet younger, 2 fair and cheerful, and of a serene countenance.

129 For as if some good news comes to him that is sad, he straight-way forgets his sadness, and regards nothing else but the good news which he has heard; and

121 But, sir, I would know why | for the rest he is comforted, and his

she sate upon a chair?

spirit is renewed through the joy which he has received: even so

122 Heanswered, because every one that is weak sitteth upon a ❘ you have been refreshed in your

chair by reason of his infirmity, that his weakness may be upheld. Behold therefore the figure of the first vision.

123 In the second vision you saw her standing, and having a youthful face, and more cheerful than her former; but her flesh and her hair were ancient. Hear, said he, this parable also.

spirit by seeing these good things. 130 And for that you saw her sitting upon a bench, it denotes a strong position; because a bench has four feet, and stands strongly. And even the world itself is upheld by the four elements.

131 They therefore that repent perfectly, shall be young; and they that turn from their sins

That he would shew me. • Aliquid divinitus. Vas. urnale. 4 In ictu.

Of the tribulation

I. HERMAS.

to come.

Hail, O Man! I returned the sa- | cerning the four colours which the

lutation, saying, Lady, Hail!

16 She answeringsaid unto me, Did nothing meet you, O man? I replied, Lady, there met me such | a beast, as seemed able to devour a whole people; but by the power of God, and through his singular mercy, I escaped it.

17 Thou didst escape it well, said she, because thou didst cast thy whole care upon God, and opened thy heart unto him, believing that thou couldst be safe by no other than by his great and honourable name.

18 For this cause the Lord sent his angel, who is over the beast, whose name is Hegrin, and stopped his mouth, that he should not devour thee. Thou hast escaped a great trial through thy faith, and because thou didst not doubt for such a terrible beast.

19 Go therefore, and relate to the elect of God the great things that he hath done for thee. And thou shalt say unto them, that this beast is the figure of the trial that is about to come.

20 If therefore, ye shall have prepared yourselves, ye may escape it, if your heart be pure and without spot; and if ye shall serve God all the rest of your days without complaint.

21 Cast all your cares upon the Lord, and he will direct them. Believe in God, ye doubtful, because he can do all things; he can both turn away his wrath from you, and send you help and security.

22 Wo to the doubtful, to those who shall hear these words, and shall despise them: it had been better for them that they had not been born.

beast had upon its head. But she answered me saying; Again thou art curious in that thou asketh concerning these things. But I said to her, Lady, shew me what they are.

24 Hear, said she; The black which thou sawest denotes the world in which you dwell. The fiery and bloody colour signifies that this age must be destroyed by fire and blood.

25 The golden part are ye, who have escaped out of it. For as gold is tried by the fire, and is made profitable, so are ye also in like manner tried who dwell among the men of this world.

26 They therefore, that shall endure to the end, and be proved by them shall be purged. And as gold, by this trial, is cleansed and loses its dross, so shall ye also cast away all sorrow and trouble, and be made pure for the building of the tower.

27 Butthe white colourdenotes the time of the world which is to come, in which the elect of God shall dwell: because the elect of God shall be pure and without spot until life eternal.

28 Wherefore do not thou cease to speak these things in the ears of the saints. Here ye have the figure of the great tribulation that is about to come; which, if you please shall be nothing to you. Keep therefore in mind the things that I have said unto you.

29 When she had spoken thus much, she departed; but I saw not whither she went. But suddenly I heard a noise, and I turned back, being afraid, for I thought that the beast was coming toward

The Second Book of HERMAS, called his COMMANDS.

W

Introduction.

rest thou shall so write as I shall shew unto thee. But I therefore HEN I had prayed at bid thee first of all write my Comhome, and was sat down mands and Similitudes, that by upon the bed, a certain man came often reading of them thou mayest in to me with a reverend look, in the more easily 1 keep them in the habit of a shepherd, clothed with a white cloak, having his 7 Whereupon I wrote his Combag upon his back, and his staff mands and Similitudes, as he bade in his hand, and saluted me.

2 I returned his salutation, and immediately he sat down by me, and said unto me, I am sent by that venerable messenger, that I should dwell with thee all the remaining days of thy life.

3 But I thought that he was come to try me, and said unto him, Who are you? For I know to whom I am committed. He said unto me, Do you not know me? I answered no. I am, said he, that shepherd to whose care you are delivered.

4 Whilst he was yet speaking, his shape was changed; and when I knew that it was he to whom I was committed, I was ashamed, and a sudden fear came upon me, and I was utterly overcome with sadness, because I had spoken so foolishly unto him.

5 But he said unto me, Be not ashamed, but receive strength in thy mind, through the commands which I am about to deliver unto thee. For, said he, I am sent to shew unto thee all those things again, which thou hast seen before, but especially such of them as may be of most use unto thee.

memory.

me.

8 Which things if when you have heard, ye shall observe to do them, and shall walk according to them, and exercise yourselves in them with a pure mind, ye

shall receive from the Lord those things which he has promised unto you.

9 But if having heard them ye shall not repent, but shall still go on to add to your sins, 2 ye shall be punished by him.

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

COMMAND I.

Of 3 believing in one God.

there is one God who created and framed all things of nothing into a being.

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

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

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

6 And first of all write my Commands and Similitudes, the all

5 Keep these things, and cast lust and iniquity far from

Observe them, Custodite possis. Lat. • Adversa recipietis. 3 Faith. Irenæus. 1 1. c. 3. Origen, de Princ. 1. 1. c. 3. Euseb. Hist. Eccles. L. 5. c. 8. Athanas. de Incarn. Verb. &c. Habe abstinentiam. 6 Omnem concupiscentiam. MSS. Lamb. et Oxon.

II. HERMAS.

and lying. thee, and put on righteousness, ❘ a real need, shall give an account and thou shalt live to God, if thou for it; but he that gives shall be shalt keep this commandment.

• Lat. Have simplicity and be innocent. 2 Gr. Ἐι δε μη, και συ ακουων ειχο εση. 3So the Gr. and Lamb. MS. Particeps eris peccati male loquentis, credens: tu habebis peccatum. 4 Vid. Antioch. Hom. xxix. 5 Dæmon. The Greek hath our. 7 Rather Simplicity; according to the Greek reading, spreserved by Athanasius. 8 Gr. in which there is no evil offence, but all thingssmooth and delightful, εν οις ουδεν προσκομμα εστιν πονηωον, αλλα παντα ομαλα κγ ιλαωα. 9 Vid Antioch. Hom. xcviii. ιδων δωηματων. MS. Lamb. de suis dodis.