,this e,book was produced by ,david ,widger widgercecomet4net ,additional proofing was done by ,curtis ,a4 ,weyant ,,the ,,suppressed ,,gospels ,,and ,,epistles ,,of ,,the ,,original ,,new ,,testament ,,of ,,jesus ,,the ,,christ ,,and ,,other ,,portions ,,of ,,the ,,ancient ,,holy ,,scriptures4 ,,now ,,extant1 ,,attributed ,,to ,,his ,,apostles1 ,,and ,,their ,,disciples1 ,,and ,,venerated ,,by ,,the ,,primitive ,,christian ,,churches ,,during ,,the ,,first ,,four ,,centuries1 ,,but ,,since1 ,,after ,,violent ,,disputations ,,forbidden ,,by ,,the ,,bishops ,,of ,,the ,,nicene ,,council1 ,,in ,,the ,,reign ,,of ,,the ,,emperor ,,constantine ,,and ,,omitted ,,from ,,the ,,catholics ,,and ,,protestant ,,editions ,,of ,,the ,,new ,,testament1 ,,by ,,its ,,compilers ,,translated ,,from ,,the ,,original ,,tongues1 ,,with ,,historical ,,references ,,to ,,their ,,authenticity1 ,,by ,,archbishop ,,wake ,,and ,,other ,,learned ,,divines ,,the ,,first ,,part ,,of ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,hermas ,,called ,,his ,,vision4 ,,vision ,i4 #a ,against filthy and proud thoughts2 #bj also the neglect of ,hermas in chastising his children4 ,,he who had bred me up sold a certain young maid at ,rome2 whom when ,i saw many years after1 ,i remembered her1 and began to love her as a sister4 ,it happened some time afterwards1 that ,i saw her washing in the river4 ,tyber2 and ,i reached out my hand unto her1 and brought her out of the river1 #b ,and when ,i saw her ,i thought with myself1 saying1 ,how happy should ,i be if ,i had such a wife1 both for beauty and manners4 ,this ,i thought with myself2 nor did ,i think any thing more4 ,but not long after1 as ,i was walking1 and musing on these thoughts1 ,i began to honour this creature of ,god1 thinking with myself2 how noble and beautiful she was4 #c ,and when ,i had walked a little1 ,i fell asleep2 and the spirit caught me away1 and carried me through a certain place towards the right hand1 through which no man could pass4 ,it was a place among rocks1 very steep1 and unpassable for water4 #d ,when ,i was past this place1 ,i came into a plain2 and there falling down upon my knees1 ,i began to pray unto the ,lord1 and to confess my sins4 #e ,and as ,i was praying1 the heaven was opened1 and ,i saw the woman which ,i had coveted1 saluting me from heaven1 and saying1 ,hermas1 hail6 and ,i looking upon her1 answered1 ,lady1 what dost thou do here8 ,she answered me1 ,i am taken up hither to accuse thee of sin before the ,lord4 #f ,lady1 said ,i1 wilt thou convince me8 ,no1 said she3 but hear the words which ,i am about to speak unto thee4 ,god who dwelleth in heaven1 and hath made all things out of nothing1 and hath multiplied them for his holy church's sake1 is angry with thee because thou hast sinned against me4 #g ,and ,i answering said unto her1 ,lady1 if ,i have sinned against thee1 tell me where1 or in what place1 or when did ,i ever speak an unseemly or dishonest word unto thee8 #h ,have ,i not always esteemed thee as a lady8 ,have ,i not always reverenced thee as a sister8 ,why then dost thou imagine these wicked things against me8 #i ,then she1 smiling upon me1 said3 the desire of naughtiness has risen up in thy heart4 ,does it not seem to thee to be an ill thing for a righteous man to have an evil desire rise up in his heart4 #aj ,it is indeed a sin1 and that a very great sin1 to such a one2 for a righteous man thinketh that which is righteous4 ,and whilst he does so1 and walketh uprightly1 he shall have the ,lord in heaven favourable unto him in all his business4 #aa ,but as for those who think wickedly in their hearts1 they take to themselves death and captivity2 and especially those who love this present world1 and glory in their riches1 and regard not the good things that are to come2 their souls wander up and down and know not where to fix4 #ab ,now this is the case of such as are double-minded1 who trust not in the ,lord1 and despise and neglect their own life4 #ac ,but do thou pray unto the ,lord1 and he will heal thy sins1 and the sins of thy whole house1 and of all his saints4 #ad ,as soon as she had spoken these words the heaven were shut1 and ,i remained utterly swallowed up with sadness and fear3 and said within myself1 if this be laid against me for sin1 how can ,i be saved4 #ae ,or how should ,i ever be able to entreat the ,lord for my many and great sins8 ,with what words shall ,i beseech him to be merciful unto me8 #af ,as ,i was thinking over these things1 and meditating in myself upon them1 behold a chair was set over against me of the whitest wool1 as bright as snow4 #ag ,and there came an old woman in a bright garment1 having a book in her hand1 and sat alone1 and saluted me1 saying1 ,hermas1 hail6 and ,i being full of sorrow and weeping1 answered1 ,hail ,lady6 #ah ,and she said unto me1 ,why art thou sad1 ,hermas1 who wert wont to be patient1 and modest1 and always cheerful8 ,i answered1 and said to her1 ,lady1 a reproach has been laid to my charge by an excellent woman1 who tells me that ,i have sinned against her4 #ai ,she replied1 ,far be any such thing from the servant of ,god4 ,but it may be the desire of her has risen up in thy heart8 ,for indeed such a thought maketh the servants of ,god guilty of sin4 #bj ,nor ought such a detestable thought to be in the servant of ,god3 nor should he who is approved by the ,spirit desire that which is evil2 but especially ,hermas1 who contains himself from all wicked lusts1 and is full of all simplicity1 and of great innocence4 #ba ,nevertheless the ,lord is not so much angry with thee for thine own sake1 as upon the account of thy house1 which has committed wickedness against the ,lord1 and against their parents4 #bb ,and for that out of thy fondness towards thy sons1 thou hast not admonished thy house1 but hast permitted them to live wickedly2 for this cause the ,lord is angry with thee3 but he will heal all the evils that are done in thy house4 ,for through their sins and iniquities1 thou art wholly consumed in secular affairs4 #bc ,but now the mercy of ,god hath taken compassion upon thee1 and upon thine house1 and hath greatly comforted thee4 ,only as for thee1 do not wander1 but be of an even mind1 and comfort thy house4 #bd ,as the workman bringing forth his work1 offers it to whomsoever he pleaseth2 so shalt thou by teaching every day what is just1 cut off a great sin4 ,wherefore cease not to admonish thy sons1 for the ,lord knows that they will repent with all their heart1 and they shall be written in the book of life4 #be ,and when she had said this1 she added unto me2 ,wilt thou hear me read8 ,i answered her1 ,lady1 ,i will4 #bf ,hear then1 said she2 and opening the book she read1 gloriously1 greatly4 and wonderfully1 such things as ,i could not keep in my memory4 ,for they were terrible words1 such as no man could bear4 #bg ,how it be ,i committed her last words to my remembrance2 for they were but few1 and of great use to us3-- #bh ,behold the mighty ,lord1 who by his invisible power1 and with his excellent wisdom made the world1 and by his glorious counsel beautified his creature1 and with the word of his strength fixed the heaven1 and founded the earth upon the waters2 and by his powerful virtue established the ,holy ,church1 which he hath blessed4 #bi ,behold he will remove the heavens1 and the mountains1 the hills1 and the seas2 and all things shall be made plain for his elect2 that he may render unto them the promise which he has promised1 with much honour and joy2 if so be that they shall keep the commandments of ,god1 which they have received with great faith4 #cj ,and when she had made an end of reading1 she rose out of the chair2 and behold four young men came1 and carried the chair to the east4 #ca ,and she called me unto her1 and touched my breast1 and said unto me1 ,did my reading please thee8 ,i answered1 ,lady1 these last things please me2 but what went before was severe and hard4 #cb ,she said unto me1 these last things are for the righteous1 but the foregoing for the revolters and heathen4 #cc ,and as she was talking with me1 two men appeared1 and took her upon their shoulders1 and went to the east where the chair was4 #cd ,and she went cheerfully away2 and as she was going1 said unto me1 ,hermas1 be of good cheer4 ,,vision ,,ii4 ,again1 of his neglect in correcting his talkative wife2 and of his lewd sons4 ,,as ,i was on the way to ,cuma1 about the same time that ,i went the year before1 ,i began to call to mind the vision ,i formerly had4 ,and again the spirit carried me away1 and brought me into the same place1 in which ,i had been the year before4 #b ,and when ,i was come into the place1 ,i fell down upon my knees1 and began to pray unto the ,lord1 and to glorify his name1 that he had esteemed me worthy1 and had manifested unto me my former sins4 #c ,and when ,i arose from prayer1 behold ,i saw over against me the old woman whom ,i had seen the last year1 walking and reading in a certain book4 #d ,and she said unto me1 ,canst thou tell these things to the elect of ,god8 ,i answered and said unto her1 ,lady1 ,i cannot retain so many things in my memory1 but give me the book1 and ,i will write them down4 #e ,take it1 says she1 and see that thou restore it again to me4 #f ,as soon as ,i had received it1 ,i went aside into a certain place of the field1 and transcribe every letter1 for ,i found no syllables4 #g ,and as soon as ,i had finished what was written in the book1 the book was suddenly caught out of my hand1 but by whom ,i saw not4 #h ,after fifteen days1 when ,i had fasted1 and entreated the ,lord with all earnestness1 the knowledge of the writing was revealed unto me4 ,now the writing was this3-- #i ,thy seed1 ,o ,hermas6 hath sinned against the ,lord1 and have betrayed their parents1 through their great wickedness4 ,and they have been called the betrayers of their parents1 and have gone on in their treachery4 #aj ,and now have they added lewdness to their other sins1 and the pollutions of their naughtiness3 thus have they filled up the measure of their iniquities4 ,but do thou upbraid thy sons with all these words2 and thy wife1 who shall be as thy sister2 and let her learn to refrain her tongue1 with which she calumniates4 #aa ,and when she shall hear these things1 she will refrain herself1 and shall obtain mercy4 #ab ,and they also shall be instructed1 when thou shalt have reproached them with these words1 which the ,lord has commanded to be revealed unto them4 #ac ,then shall their sins be forgiven1 which they have heretofore committed1 and the sins of all the saints who have sinned even unto this day2 if they shall repent with all their hearts1 and remove all doubts out of their hearts4 #ad ,for the ,lord hath sworn by his glory concerning his elect1 having determined this very time1 that if any one shall even now sin1 he shall not be saved4 #ae ,for the repentance of the righteous has its end2 the days of repentance are fulfilled to all the saints2 but to the heathen1 there is repentance even unto the last day4 #af ,thou shalt therefore say to those who are over the church1 that they order their ways in righteousness2 so that they may fully receive the promise with much glory4 #ag ,stand fast therefore ye that work righteousness and continue to do it1 that your departure may be with the holy angels4 #ah ,happy are ye1 as many as shall endure the great trial that is at hand1 and whosoever shall not deny his life4 #ai ,for the ,lord hath sworn by his ,son1 that whoso1 denieth his ,son and ,,him1 being afraid of his life1 he will also deny him in the world that is to come4 #bj ,but those who shall never deny him1 he will of his exceeding great mercy be favourable unto them4 #ba ,but thou1 ,o ,hermas6 remember not the evils which thy sons have done1 neither neglect thy sister1 but take care that they amend of their former sins4 #bb ,for they will be instructed by this doctrine1 if thou shalt not be mindful of what they have done wickedly4 #bc ,for the remembrance of evils worketh death1 but the forgetting of them eternal life4 #bd ,but thou1 ,o ,hermas6 hast undergone a great many worldly troubles for the offences of thy house1 because thou hast neglected them1 as things that did not belong unto thee2 and thou art wholly taken up with thy great business4 #be ,nevertheless1 for this cause shalt thou be saved1 that thou hast not departed from the living ,god1 and thy simplicity and singular continency shall preserve thee1 if thou shalt continue in them4 #bf ,yes1 they shall save all such as do such things1 and walk in innocence and simplicity4 #bg ,they who are of this kind shall prevail against all impiety1 and continue until life eternal4 #bh ,happy are all they that do righteousness1 they shall not be consumed for ever4 #bi ,but thou wilt say1 ,behold there is a great trial coming4 ,if it seem good to thee1 deny him again4 #cj ,the ,lord is nigh to them that turn to him1 as it is written in the book of ,heldam and ,modal1 who prophesied to the people of ,israel in the wilderness4 #ca ,moreover1 brethren1 it was revealed to me1 as ,i was sleeping1 by a very goodly young man1 saying unto me1 ,what thinkest thou of that old woman from whom thou receivedst the book2 who is she8 ,i answered1 a ,sybil4 #cb ,thou art mistaken said he1 she is not4 ,i replied1 ,who is she then1 sir8 ,he answered me1 ,it is the church of ,god4 #cc ,and ,i said unto him1 ,why then does she appear old8 ,she is therefore1 said he1 an old woman1 because she was the first of all the creation1 and the world was made for her4 #cd ,after this ,i saw a vision at home in my own house1 and the old woman1 whom ,i had seen before1 came to me and asked me whether ,i had yet delivered her book to the elders of the church8 ,and ,i answered1 that ,i had not yet4 #ce ,she replied1 ,thou hast well done1 for ,i have certain words more to tell thee4 ,but when ,i shall have finished all the words1 they shall be clearly understood by the elect4 #cf ,and thou shalt write two books1 and send one to ,clement and one to ,grapte4 ,for ,clement shall send it to the foreign cities1 because it is permitted to him so to do3 but ,grapte shall admonish the widows and orphans4 #cg ,but thou shalt read in this city with the elders of the church4 ,,vision ,,iii4 ,of the building of the church triumphant1 and of the several sorts of reprobates4 ,,the vision which ,i saw1 brethren1 was this4 #b ,when ,i had often fasted and prayed unto the ,lord1 that he would manifest unto me the revelation1 which he had promised by the old woman to show unto me2 the same night she appeared unto me1 and said unto me1 #c ,because thou dost thus afflict thyself1 and art so desirous to know all things1 come into the field1 where thou wilt1 and about the sixth hour1 ,i will appear unto thee1 and show thee what thou must see4 #d ,i asked her1 saying2 ,lady1 into what part of the field8 ,she answered1 wherever thou wilt1 only choose a good and a private place4 ,and before ,i began to speak and tell her the place1 she said unto me2 ,i will come where thou wilt4 #e ,i was therefore1 brethren in the field and ,i observed the hours1 and came into the place where ,i had appointed her to come4 #f ,and ,i beheld a bench placed2 it was a linen pillow1 and over it spread a covering of fine linen4 #g ,when ,i saw these things ordered in this manner1 and that there was nobody in the place1 ,i began to be astonished1 and my hair stood on end1 and a1 kind of horror seized me2 for ,i was alone4 #h ,but being come to myself1 and calling to mind the glory of ,god1 and taking courage1 ,i fell down upon my knees and began again to confess my sins as before4 #i ,and whilst ,i was doing this1 the old woman came thither with the six young men whom ,i had seen before1 and stood behind me as ,i was praying1 and heard me praying and confessing my sins unto the ,lord4 #aj ,and touching me1 she said2 ,leave off praying now only for thy sins2 pray also for righteousness1 that thou mayest receive a part of it in thy house4 #aa ,and she lifted me up from the place1 and took me by the hand1 and brought me to the seat2 and said to the young men1 go1 and build4 #ab ,as soon as they were departed1 and we were alone1 she said unto me2 sit here4 ,i answered her2 ,lady1 let those who are elder sit first4 ,she replied1 ,sit down as ,i bid you4 #ac ,and when ,i would have sat on the right side1 she suffered me not1 but made a sign to me with her hand1 that ,i should sit on the left4 #ad ,as ,i was therefore musing1 and full of sorrow1 that she would not suffer me to sit on the right side1 she said unto me1 ,hermas1 why art thou sad8 #ae ,the place which is on the right hand is theirs who have already attained unto ,god1 and have suffered for his name-sake4 ,but there is yet a great deal remaining unto thee1 before thou canst sit with them4 #af ,but continue as thou doest1 in thy sincerity1 and thou shalt sit with them2 as all others shall1 who do their works1 and shall bear what they have borne4 #ag ,i said to her2 ,lady1 ,i would know what it is that they have suffered8 ,hear then1 said she3 wild beasts1 scourgings1 imprisonments1 and crosses for his name-sake4 #ah ,for this cause the right hand of holiness belongs to them1 and to all others as many as shall suffer for the name of ,god2 but the left belongs to the rest4 #ai ,howbeit the gifts and the promises belong to both1 to them on the right1 and to those on the left hand2 only that sitting on the right hand they have some glory above the others4 #bj ,but thou art desirous to sit on the right hand with them1 and yet thy defects are many4 ,but thou shalt be purged from thy defects1 as also all who doubt not shall be cleansed from all the sins which they have committed unto this day4 #ba ,and when she had said this she would have departed4 #bb ,wherefore1 falling down before her feet1 ,i began to entreat her1 for the ,lord's sake1 that she would show me the vision which she had promised4 #bc ,then she again took me by the hand1 and lifted me up1 and made me sit upon the seat at the left side2 and holding up a certain bright wand1 said unto me1 ,seest thou that great thing8 ,i replied1 ,lady1 ,i see nothing4 #bd ,she answered1 ,dost thou not see over against thee a great tower1 which is built upon the water with bright square stones8 #be ,for the tower was built upon a square by these six young men that came with her4 #bf ,but many thousand of other men brought stones2 some drew them out of the deep1 others carried them from the ground1 and gave them to the six young men2 and they took them and built4 #bg ,as for those stones which were drawn out of the deep1 they put them all into the building2 for they were polished1 and their squares exactly answered one another1 and so one was joined in such wise to the other1 that there was no space to be seen where they joined1 insomuch that the whole tower appeared to be built as it were of one stone4 #bh ,but as for the other stones that were taken off from the ground1 some of them they rejected1 others they fitted into the building4 #bi ,as for those which were rejected1 some they cut out1 and cast them at a distance from the tower2 but many others of them lay round about the tower1 which they made no use of in the building4 #cj ,for some of these were rough1 others had clefts in them1 others were white and round1 not proper for the building of the tower4 #ca ,but ,i saw the other stones cast afar off from the tower1 and falling into the high-way1 and yet not continuing in the way1 but were rolled from the way into a desert place4 #cb ,others ,i saw falling into the fire and burning2 others fell near the water1 yet could not roll themselves into it1 though very desirous to fall into the water4 #cc ,and when she had showed me these things she would have departed2 but ,i said to her1 ,lady1 what doth it profit me to see these things1 and not understand what they mean8 #cd ,she answered and said unto me2 ,you are very cunning1 in that you are desirous to know those things which relate to the tower4 ,yea1 said ,i1 lady1 that ,i may declare them unto the brethren1 and they may rejoice1 and hearing these things may glorify ,god with great glory4 #ce ,then she said1 ,many indeed shall hear them1 and when they shall have heard them1 some shall rejoice1 and others weep4 ,and yet even these1 if they shall repent1 shall rejoice too4 #cf ,hear therefore what ,i shall say concerning the parable of the tower1 and after this be no longer importunate with me about the revelation4 #cg ,for these revelations have an end1 seeing they are fulfilled4 ,but thou dost not leave off to desire revelations1 for thou art very urgent4 #ch ,as for the tower which thou seest built1 it is myself1 namely1 the church1 which have appeared to thee both now and heretofore4 ,wherefore ask what thou wilt concerning the tower1 and ,i will reveal it unto thee1 that thou mayest rejoice with the saints4 #ci ,i said unto her1 ,lady1 because thou hast thought me once worthy to receive from thee the revelation of all these things1 declare them unto me4 #dj ,she answered me1 ,whatsoever is fit to be revealed unto thee shall be revealed3 only yet thy heart be with the ,lord1 and doubt not1 whatsoever thou shalt see4 #da ,i asked her1 ,lady1 why is the tower built upon the water8 ,she replied1 ,i said before to thee that thou wert very wise to inquire diligently concerning the building1 therefore thou shalt find the truth4 #db ,hear therefore why the tower is built upon the water3 because your life is and shall be saved by water4 ,for it is founded by the word of the almighty and honourable name1 and is supported by the invisible power and virtue of ,god4 #dc ,and ,i answering1 said unto her1 ,these things are very admirable2 but1 lady1 who are those six young men that build8 #dd ,they are1 said she1 the angels of ,god1 who were first appointed1 and to whom the ,lord has delivered all his creatures1 to frame and build them up1 and to rule over them4 ,for by these the building of the tower shall be finished4 #de ,and who are the rest who bring them stones8 #df ,they also are the holy angels of the ,lord2 but the others are more excellent than these4 ,wherefore when the whole building of the tower shall be finished1 they shall all feast together beside the tower1 and shall glorify ,god1 because the structure of the tower is finished4 #dg ,i asked her1 saying1 ,i would know the condition of the stones1 and what the meaning of them is8 #dh ,she answering1 said unto me1 ,art thou better than all others that this should be revealed unto thee8 ,for others are both before thee and better than thou art1 to whom these visions should be made manifest4 #di ,nevertheless1 that the name of ,god may be glorified1 it has been shown and shall be revealed unto thee1 for the sake of those who are doubtful1 and think in their hearts whether these things are so or not4 #ej ,tell them that all these things are true1 and that there is nothing in them that is not true but all are firm and truly established4 #ea ,hear now then concerning the stones that are in the building4 #eb ,the square and white stones which agree exactly in their joints1 are the apostles1 and bishops1 and doctors1 and ministers1 who through the mercy of ,god have come in1 and governed1 and taught and ministered holily and modestly to the elect of ,god1 both they that have fallen asleep1 and which yet remain2 and have always agreed with them1 and have had peace within themselves1 and have heard each other4 #ec ,for which cause their joints exactly meet together in the building of the tower4 #ed ,they which are drawn out of the deep and put into the building1 and whose joints agree with the other stones which are already built1 are those which are already fallen asleep1 and have suffered for the sake of the ,lord's name4 #ee ,and what are the other stones1 lady1 that are brought from the earth8 ,i would know what are they4 #ef ,she answered1 ,they which lie upon the ground and are not polished1 are those which ,god has approved1 because they have walked in ,i the law of the ,lord1 and directed their ways in his commandments4 #eg ,they which are brought and put in the building of the tower1 are the young in faith and the faithful4 ,and these are admonished by the angels to do well because iniquity is not found in them4 #eh ,but who are those whom they rejected1 and laid beside the tower8 #ei ,they are such as have sinned and are willing to repent2 for which cause they are not cast far from the tower1 because they will be useful for the building1 if they shall repent4 #fj ,they therefore that are yet to repent1 if they repent they shall become strong in the faith2 that is1 if they repent now1 whilst the tower is building4 ,for if the building shall be finished there will then be no place for them to be put in1 but they shall be rejected2 for he only has this privilege who shall now be put into the tower4 #fa ,but would you know who they are that were cut out1 and cast afar off from the tower8 ,lady said ,i1 ,i desire it4 #fb ,they are the children of iniquity1 who believed only in hypocrisy1 and departed not from their evil ways2 for this cause they shall not be saved1 because they are not of any use in the building by reason of their sins4 #fc ,wherefore they are cut out1 and cast afar off1 because of the anger of the ,lord1 and because they have provoked him to anger against them4 #fd ,as for the great number of other stones which thou hast seen placed about the tower1 but now put into the building2 those which are rugged1 are they who have known the truth1 but have not continued in it1 nor been joined to the saints1 and therefore are unprofitable4 #fe ,those that have clefts in them1 are they that keep up discord in their hearts against each other1 and live not in peace2 that are friendly when present with their brethren1 but as soon as they are departed from one another1 their wickedness still continues in their hearts3 these are the clefts which are seen in those stones4 #ff ,those that are maimed and short1 are they who have believed indeed1 but still are in great measure full of wickedness2 for this cause they are maimed and not whole4 #fg ,but what are the white and round stones1 lady1 and which are not proper for the building of the tower8 #fh ,she answering said unto me3 ,how long wilt thou continue foolish and without understanding1 asking everything and discerning nothing8 #fi ,they are such as have faith indeed1 but have withal the riches of this present world4 ,when therefore any troubles arise1 for the sake of their riches and traffic1 they deny the ,lord4 #gj ,i answering1 said unto her1 ,when therefore will they be profitable to the ,lord8 ,when their riches shall be cut away1 says she1 in which they take delight1 then they will be profitable unto the ,lord for his building4 #ga ,for as a round stone1 unless it be cut away and is cast somewhat of its bulk1 cannot be made square1 so they who are rich in this world2 unless their riches be pared off2 cannot be made profitable unto the ,lord4 #gb ,learn this from thy own experience3 when thou wert rich1 thou wast unprofitable2 but now thou art profitable1 and fit for the life which thou hast undertaken2 for thou also once was one of those stones4 #gc ,as for the rest of the stones which thou sawest cast afar off from the tower1 and running in the way1 and tumbled out of the way into desert places2 they are such as have believed indeed1 but through their doubting have forsaken the true way1 thinking that they could find a better4 ,but they wander and are miserable1 going into desolate ways4 #gd ,then for those stones which fell into the fire and were burnt1 they are those who have for ever departed from the living ,god2 nor doth it ever come into their hearts to repent1 by reason of the affection which they bear to their lusts and wickedness which they commit4 #ge ,and what are the rest which fell by the water1 and could not roll into the water8 #gf ,they are such as have heard the word1 and were willing to be baptised in the name of the ,lord2 but considering the great holiness which the truth requires1 have withdrawn themselves1 an walked again after wicked lusts4 #gg ,thus she finished the explanation of the tower4 #gh ,but ,i being still urgent1 asked her1 ,is there repentance allowed to all those stones which are thus cast away1 and were not suitable to the building of the tower2 and shall they find place in this tower8 #gi ,they may repent1 said she1 yet they cannot come into this tower2 but1 they shall be placed in a much lower rank1 and then only after they shall have been afflicted and fulfilled the days of their sins4 #hj ,and for this cause they shall be removed1 because they have received the word of righteousness3 and then they shall be translated from their afflictions1 if they shall have a true sense in their hearts of what they have done amiss4 #ha ,but if they shall not have this sense in their hearts1 they shall not be saved by reason of the hardness of their hearts4 #hb ,when therefore ,i had done asking her concerning all these things1 she said unto me1 ,wilt thou see something else8 ,and being desirous of seeing it1 ,i became very cheerful of countenances4 #hc ,she therefore looking back upon me1 and smiling a little1 said unto me1 ,seest thou seven women about the tower8 ,lady1 said ,i1 ,i see them4 #hd ,this tower1 replied she1 is supported by them1 according to the command of the ,lord3 hear therefore the effects of them4 #he ,the first of them1 which holds fast with her hand1 is called ,faith2 ,the next1 which is girt up1 and looks manly1 is named ,abstinence3 she is the daughter of ,faith4 #hf ,whosoever therefore shall follow her shall be happy in all his life1 because he shall abstain from all evil works1 believing that if he shall contain himself from all concupiscence1 he shall be the heir of eternal life4 ,and what1 lady1 said ,i1 are the other five8 #hg ,they are1 replied she1 the daughters of one another4 ,the first of them is called ,simplicity2 the next ,innocence2 the third ,modesty2 then ,discipline2 and the last of all is ,charity4 ,when therefore thou shalt have fulfilled the works of their mother1 thou shalt be able to do all things4 #hh ,lady1 said ,i1 ,i would know what particular virtue every one of these has4 #hi ,hear then1 replied she2 they have equal virtues1 and their virtues are knit together1 and follow one another as they were born4 #ij ,from ,faith proceeds ,abstinence2 from ,abstinence1 ,simplicity2 from ,simplicity1 ,innocence2 from ,innocence1 ,modesty2 from ,modesty1 ,discipline and ,charity4 ,therefore the works of these are holy1 and chaste1 and right4 #ia ,whoever therefore shall serve these1 and hold fast to their works1 he shall have his dwelling in the tower with the saints of ,god4 #ib ,then ,i asked her concerning the times1 whether the end were now at hand8 #ic ,but she cried out with a loud voice1 saying1 ,o foolish man6 ,dost thou not see the tower yet a building8 ,when therefore the tower shall be finished1 and built1 it shall have an end2 and indeed it shall soon be accomplished4 #id ,but do not ask me any more questions4 ,what has been said may suffice thee and all the saints for the refreshment of your spirits4 ,for these things have not been revealed to thee only1 but that thou mayest make them manifest unto all4 #ie ,for therefore1 ,o ,hermas1 after three days thou must understand these words which ,i begin to speak unto thee1 that thou mayest speak them in the ears of the saints2 that when thou shall have heard and done them1 they may be cleansed from their iniquities1 and thou together with them4 #if ,hear me therefore1 ,o my sons6 ,i have bred you up in much simplicity1 and innocency1 and modesty1 for the love of ,god1 which has dropped down upon you in righteousness1 that you should be sanctified and justified from all sin and wickedness2 but ye will not cease from your evil doings4 #ig ,now therefore hearken unto me1 and have peace one with another1 and visit one another1 and receive one another1 and do not enjoy the creatures of ,god alone4 #ih ,give freely to them that are in need4 ,for some by too free feeding contract an infirmity in their flesh1 and do injury to their bodies2 whilst the flesh of others1 who have not food1 withers away1 because they want sufficient nourishment1 and the bodies are consumed4 #ii ,wherefore this intemperance is hurtful to you1 who have1 and do not contribute to them that want4 ,prepare for the judgment that is about to come upon you4 #ajj ,ye that are the more eminent1 search out them that are hungry1 whilst the tower is yet unfinished4 ,for when the tower shall be finished1 ye shall be willing to do good1 and shall not find any place in it4 #aja ,beware1 therefore1 ye that glory in your riches1 lest perhaps they groan who are in want1 and their sighing come up unto ,god1 and ye be shut out with your goods without the gate of the tower4 #ajb ,behold ,i now warn you who are set over the church1 and love the highest seats1 be not ye like unto those that work mischief4 #ajc ,and they indeed carry about their poison in boxes1 but ye contain your poison and infection in your hearts1 and will not purge them1 and mix your sense with a pure heart1 that ye might find mercy with the ,great ,king4 #ajd ,take heed1 my children1 that your dissensions deprive you not of your lives4 ,how will ye instruct the elect of ,god1 when ye yourselves want correction8 ,wherefore admonish one another1 and be at peace among yourselves1 that ,i1 standing before your ,father1 may give an account of you unto the ,lord4 #aje ,and when she had made an end of talking with me1 the six young men that built1 came and carried her to the tower2 and four others took up the seat on which she sat1 and they also went away again to the tower4 ,i saw not the faces of these1 for their backs were towards me4 #ajf ,as she was going away1 ,i asked her1 that she would reveal to me what concerned the three forms1 in which she had appeared unto me4 #ajg ,but she answering said unto me1 concerning these things thou must ask some other1 that they may be revealed unto thee4 #ajh ,now1 brethren1 in the first vision the last year1 she appeared unto me exceedingly old1 and sitting in a chair4 #aji ,in another vision1 she had indeed a youthful face1 but her flesh and hair were old2 but she talked with me standing1 and was more cheerful than the first time4 #aaj ,in the third vision1 she was in all respects much younger1 and comely to the eye2 only she had the hair of an aged person3 yet she looked cheerful1 and sat upon a seat4 #aaa ,i was therefore very sad concerning these things1 until ,i might understand the vision4 #aab ,wherefore ,i saw the same old woman in a vision of the night saying unto me1 ,all prayer needeth humiliation4 ,fast1 therefore1 and thou shalt learn from the ,lord that which thou dost ask4 ,i fasted therefore one day4 #aac ,the same night a young man appeared to me and said1 ,why dost thou thus often desire ,revelations in thy prayers8 ,take heed that by asking many things1 thou hurt not the body4 ,let these ,revelations suffice thee4 #aad ,canst thou see more notable ,revelations than those which thou hast already received8 #aae ,i answered and said unto him1 ,sir1 ,i only ask this one thing upon the account of the three figures of the old woman that appeared to me1 that the ,revelation may be complete4 #aaf ,he answered me1 ,you are not without understanding1 but your doubts make you so2 for as much as you have not your heart with the ,lord4 #aag ,i replied and said1 ,but we shall learn these things more carefully from you4 #aah ,hear then1 says he1 concerning the figures about which you inquire4 #aai ,to begin2 in the first vision she appeared to thee in the shape of an old woman sitting in1 a chair1 because your old spirit was decayed1 and without strength1 by reason of your infirmities1 and the doubtfulness of your heart4 #abj ,for as they who are old have no hope of renewing themselves1 nor expect any thing but their departure2 so you being weakened through your worldly affairs gave yourself up to sloth1 and cast not away your solicitude from yourself upon the ,lord3 and your sense was confused1 and you grew old in your sadness4 #aba ,but1 sir1 ,i would know why she sat upon a chair8 #abb ,he answered1 because every one that is weak sitteth upon a chair by reason of his infirmity1 that his weakness may be upheld4 ,behold therefore the figure of the first vision4 #abc ,in the second vision you saw her standing1 and having a youthful face1 and more cheerful than her former2 but her flesh and her hair were ancient4 ,hear1 said he1 this parable also4 #abd ,when any one grows old1 he despairs of himself by reason of his infirmity and poverty1 and expects nothing but the last day of his life4 #abe ,but on a sudden an inheritance is left to him1 and he hears of it1 and rises3 and being become cheerful1 be puts on new strength4 ,and now he no longer sits down1 but stands1 and is delivered from his former sorrow2 and sits not1 but acts manfully4 #abf ,so you1 having heard the ,revelation which ,god revealed unto you1 because ,god had compassion upon you1 and renewed your spirit1 both laid aside your infirmities1 and strength came to you1 and you grew strong in the faith2 and ,god1 seeing your strength1 rejoiced4 #abg ,for this cause he showed you the building of the tower1 and will show other things unto you1 if you shall have peace with all your heart among each other4 #abh ,but in the third vision you saw her yet younger1 fair and cheerful1 and of a serene countenance4 #abi ,for1 as if some good news comes to him that is sad1 he straightway forgets his sadness1 and regards nothing else but the good news which he has heard2 and for the rest he is comforted1 and his spirit is renewed through the joy which he has received even so you have been refreshed in your spirit by seeing these good things4 #acj ,and for that you saw her sitting upon a bench1 it denotes a strong position2 because a bench has four feet1 and stands strongly4 ,and even the world itself is upheld by the four elements4 #aca ,they therefore that repent perfectly1 shall be young2 and they that turn from their sins with their whole heart1 shall be established4 #acb ,and now you have the ,revelation fully1 ask no more to have any thing farther revealed unto you4 #acc ,but if any thing is to be revealed1 it shall be made manifest unto you4 ,,vision ,,iv4 ,of the trial1 and tribulation that is about to come upon men4 ,i ,,saw a vision brethren1 twenty days after the former vision2 a representation of the tribulation that is at hand4 ,i was walking in the field way4 #b ,now from the public way to the place whither ,i went is about ten furlongs2 it is a way very little frequented3 #c ,and as ,i was walking alone1 ,i entreated the ,lord that he would confirm the ,revelations which he had shown unto me by his ,holy ,church4 #d ,and would grant repentance to all his servants who had been offended1 that his great and honourable name might be glorified1 and because he thought me worthy to whom he might show his wonders1 and1 that ,i might honour him1 and give thanks unto him4 #e ,and behold somewhat like a voice answered me2 ,doubt not1 ,hermas4 ,wherefore ,i began to think1 and say within myself1 why should ,i doubt1 seeing ,i am thus settled by the ,lord1 and have seen such glorious things8 #f ,i had gone but a little farther1 brethren1 when behold ,i saw a dust rise up to heaven4 ,i began to say within myself1 is there a drove of cattle coming1 that rises such a dust8 #g ,it was about a furlong off from me4 ,and behold ,i saw the dust rise more and more1 insomuch that ,i began to suspect that there was somewhat extraordinary in it4 #h ,and the sun shone a little2 and behold ,i saw a great beast1 as it were a whale2 and fiery locusts came out of his mouth4 ,the height of the beast was about a hundred feet1 and he had a head like a large earthen vessel4 #i ,i began to weep1 and to pray unto the ,lord that he would deliver me from it4 ,then ,i called to mind the word which ,i had heard2 ,doubt not1 ,hermas4 #aj ,wherefore1 brethren1 putting on a divine faith1 and remembering who it was that had taught me great things1 ,i delivered myself bodily unto the beast4 #aa ,now the beast came on in such a manner1 as if it could at once have devoured a city4 #ab ,i came near unto it1 and the beast extended its whole bulk upon the ground1 and put forth nothing but its tongue1 nor once moved itself till ,i had quite passed by it4 #ac ,now the beast had upon its head four colours2 first black1 then a red and bloody colour1 then a golden1 and then a white4 #ad ,after that ,i had passed by it1 and was gone forward about thirty feet1 behold there met me a certain virgin1 well adorned as if she had been just come out of her bride-chamber2 all in white1 having on white shoes1 and a veil down her face1 and covered with shining hair4 #ae ,now ,i knew by my former visions that it was the church1 and thereupon grew the more cheerful4 ,she saluted me1 saying1 ,hail1 ,o ,man6 ,i returned the salutation1 saying1 ,lady1 ,hail6 #af ,she answering said unto me1 ,did nothing meet you1 ,o man6 ,i replied1 ,lady1 there met me such a beast1 as seemed able to devour a whole people2 but by the power of ,god1 and through his singular mercy1 ,i escaped it4 #ag ,thou didst escape it well1 said she1 because thou didst cast thy whole care upon ,god1 and opened thy heart unto him1 believing that thou couldst be safe by no other than by his great and honourable name4 #ah ,for this cause the ,lord sent his angel1 who is over the beast1 whose name is ,hegrin1 and stopped his mouth1 that he should not devour thee1 ,thou hast escaped a great trial through thy faith1 and because thou didst not doubt for such a terrible beast4 #ai ,go1 therefore1 and relate to the elect of ,god the great things that he hath done for thee4 ,and thou shalt say unto them1 that this beast is the figure of the trial that is about to come4 #bj ,if1 therefore1 ye shall have prepared yourselves1 ye may escape it1 if your hearts be pure and without spot2 and if ye shall serve ,god all the rest of your days without complaint4 #ba ,cast all your care upon the ,lord1 and he will direct them4 ,believe in ,god1 ye doubtful1 because he can do all things2 he can both turn away his wrath from you1 and send you help and security4 #bb ,woe to the doubtful1 to those who shall hear these words1 and shall despise them3 it had been better for them that they had not been born4 #bc ,then ,i asked her concerning the four colours which the beast had upon its head4 ,but she answered me saying2 ,again thou art curious in that thou asketh concerning these things4 ,but ,i said to her1 ,lady1 chew me what they are8 #bd ,hear1 said she2 ,the black which thou sawest denotes the world in which you dwell4 ,the fiery and bloody colour signifies that this age must be destroyed by fire and blood4 #be ,the golden part are ye1 who have escaped out of it2 for as gold is tried by the fire1 and is made profitable1 so are ye also in like manner tried who dwell among the men of this world4 #bf ,they therefore1 that shall endure to the end1 and be proved by them1 shall be purged4 ,and as gold1 by this trial1 is cleansed and loses its dross1 so shall ye also cast away all sorrow and trouble1 and be made pure for the building of the tower4 #bg ,but the white colour denotes the time of the world which is to come1 in which the elect of ,god shall dwell3 because the elect of ,god shall be pure and without spot until life eternal4 #bh ,wherefore do not thou cease to speak these thing in the ears of the saints4 ,here ye have the figure of the great tribulation that is about to come2 which1 if you please1 shall be nothing to you4 #bi ,when she had spoken thus much1 she departed2 but ,i saw not whither she went4 ,but suddenly ,i heard a noise1 and ,i turned back1 being afraid1 for ,i thought that the beast was coming toward me4 ,,the ,,second ,,part ,,of ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,hermas1 ,,called ,,his ,,commands4 ,introduction4 ,,when ,i had prayed at home1 and was sat down upon the bed1 a certain man came in to me with a reverend look1 in the habit of a ,shepherd1 clothed with a white cloak1 having his bag upon his back1 and his staff in his hand1 and saluted me4 #b ,i returned his salutation1 and immediately he sat down by me1 and said unto me1 ,i am sent by that venerable messenger1 that ,i should dwell with thee all the remaining days of thy life4 #c ,but ,i thought that he was come to try me1 and said unto him1 ,who are you8 ,for ,i know to whom ,i am committed4 ,he said unto me1 ,do you not know me8 ,i answered no4 ,i am1 said he1 that shepherd to whose care you are delivered4 #d ,whilst he was yet speaking1 his shape was changed2 and when ,i knew that it was he to whom ,i was committed1 ,i was ashamed1 and a sudden fear came upon me1 and ,i was utterly overcome with sadness1 because ,i had spoken so foolishly unto him4 #e ,but he said unto me1 ,be not ashamed1 but receive strength in thy mind1 through the commands which ,i am about to deliver unto thee4 ,for1 said he1 ,i am sent to show unto thee all those things again1 which thou hast seen before1 but especially such of them as may be of most use unto thee4 #f ,and first of all write my ,commands and ,similitudes1 the rest thou shall so write as ,i shall show unto thee4 ,but ,i therefore bid thee first of all write my ,commands and ,similitudes1 that by often reading of them thou mayest the more easily keep them in memory4 #g ,whereupon ,i wrote his ,commands and ,similitudes1 as he bade me4 #h ,which things if when you have heard1 ye shall observe to do them1 and shall walk according to them1 and exercise yourselves in them with a pure mind1 ye shall receive from the ,lord those things which he has promised unto you4 #i ,but if having heard them ye shall not repent1 but shall still go on to add to your sins1 ye shall be punished by him4 #aj ,all these things that ,shepherd1 the angel of repentance1 commanded me to write4 ,,command ,i4 ,of believing in one ,god4 ,,first of all believe that there is one ,god who created and brought all things out of nothing into existence4 #b ,he comprehends all things1 and is only ,,infinite1 not to be comprehended by any4 #c ,who can neither be defined by any words1 nor conceived by the mind4 #d ,therefore believe in him1 and fear him2 and fearing him abstain from all evil4 #e ,keep these things1 and cast all lust and iniquity far from thee1 and put on righteousness1 and thou shalt live to ,god1 if thou shalt keep his commandment4 ,,command ,,ii4 ,that we must avoid detraction1 and do our alms-deeds with simplicity4 ,,he said unto me1 ,be innocent and without disguise2 so shalt thou be like an infant who knows no malice which destroys the life of man4 #b ,especially see that thou speak evil of none1 nor willingly hear any one speak evil of others4 #c ,for if thou observest not this1 thou also who hearest shall be partaker of the sin of him that speaketh evil1 by believing the slander1 and thou also shalt have sin1 because thou believedst him that spoke evil of thy brother4 #d ,detraction is a pernicious thing2 an inconstant1 evil spirit2 that never continues in peace1 but is always in discord4 ,wherefore refrain thyself from it1 and keep peace ever more with thy brother4 #e ,put on an holy constancy1 in which there are no sins1 but all is full of joy2 and do good of thy labours4 #f ,give without distinction to all that are in want1 not doubting to whom thou givest4 #g ,but give to all1 for ,god will have us give to all1 of all his own gifts4 ,they therefore that receive shall give an account to ,god1 both wherefore they received and for what end4 #h ,and they that receive without real need1 shall give an account for it2 but he that gives shall be innocent4 #i ,for he has fulfilled his duty as he received it from ,god2 not making any choice to whom he should give1 and to whom not4 ,and this service he did with simplicity and to the glory of ,god4 #aj ,keep therefore this command according as ,i have delivered it into thee3 that thy repentance nay be found to be sincere1 and that good may come to thy house2 and have a pure heart4 ,,command ,,iii4 ,of avoiding lying1 and the repentance of ,hermas for his dissimulation4 ,,moreover he said unto me love truth2 and let all the speech be true which proceeds out of thy mouth4 #b ,that the spirit which the ,lord hath given to dwell in thy flesh may be found true towards all men2 and the ,lord be glorified1 who hath given such a spirit unto thee3 because ,god is true in all his words1 and in him there is no lie4 #c ,they therefore that lie1 deny the ,lord1 and become robbers of the ,lord1 not rendering to ,god what they received from him4 #d ,for they received the spirit free from lying3 ,if therefore they make that a liar1 they defile what was committed to them by the ,lord1 and become deceivers4 #e ,when ,i heard this1 ,i wept bitterly2 and when he saw me weeping1 he said unto me1 ,why weepest thou8 ,and ,i said1 ,because1 sir1 ,i doubt whether ,i can be saved4 #f ,he asked me1 ,wherefore8 ,i replied1 ,because1 sir1 ,i never spake a true word in my life2 but always lived in dissimulation1 and affirmed a lie for truth to all men2 and no man contradicted me1 but all gave credit to my words4 ,how then can ,i live1 seeing ,i have done in this manner8 #g ,and he said unto me1 ,thou thinkest well and truly2 for thou oughtest1 as the servant of ,god1 to have walked in the truth1 and not have joined an evil conscience with the spirit of truth1 nor have grieved the holy and true ,spirit of ,god4 #h ,and ,i replied unto him1 ,sir1 ,i never before hearkened so diligently to these things4 ,he answered1 ,now thou hearest them ,take care from henceforth1 that even those things which thou hast formerly spoken falsely for the sake of thy business1 may1 by thy present truth receive pardon4 #i ,for even those things may be forgiven1 if for the time to come thou shalt speak the truth2 and by so doing thou mayest attain unto life4 #aj ,and whosoever shall hearken unto this command1 and do it1 and shall depart from all lying1 he shall live unto ,god4 ,,command ,,iv4 ,of putting away one's wife for adultery4 ,,furthermore1 said he1 ,i command thee1 that thou keep thyself chaste2 and that thou suffer not any thought of any other marriage1 or of fornication1 to enter into thy heart2 for such a thought produces great sin4 #b ,but be thou at all times mindful of the ,lord1 and thou shalt never sin4 ,for if such an evil thought should arise in thy heart1 then thou shall be guilty of a great sin2 and they who do such things1 follow the way of death4 #c ,look therefore to thyself1 and keep thyself from such a thought2 for where chastity remains in the heart of a righteous man1 there an evil thought ought never to arise4 #d ,and ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 suffer me to speak a little to you4 ,he bade me say on4 ,and ,i answered1 ,sir1 if a man that is faithful in the ,lord shall have a wife1 and shall catch her in adultery2 doth a man sin that continues to live still with her8 #e ,and he said unto me1 ,as long as he is ignorant of her sin1 he commits no fault in living with her2 but if a man shall know his wife to1 have offended1 and she shall not repent of her sin1 but go on still in her fornication1 and a man shall continue nevertheless to live with her1 he shall become guilty of her sin1 and partake with her in her adultery4 #f ,and ,i said unto him1 ,what therefore is to be done1 if the woman continues on in her sin8 ,he answered1 ,let her husband put her away1 and let him continue by himself2 but if he shall put away his wife and marry another1 he also doth commit adultery4 #g ,and ,i said1 ,what1 if the woman that is so put away1 should repent1 and be willing to return to her husband1 shall she not be received by him8 ,he said unto me1 ,yes2 and if her husband shall not receive her1 he will sin1 and commit a great offence against himself2 for he ought to receive the offender1 if she repents3 only not often4 #h ,for1 to the servants of ,god1 there is but one repentance2 and for this cause a man that putteth away his wife ought not to take another1 because she may repent4 #i ,this act is alike both in the man and in the woman4 ,now they commit adultery1 not only who pollute their flesh1 but who also make an image4 ,if therefore a woman perseveres in any thing of this kind1 and repents not1 depart from her2 and live not with her1 otherwise thou also shalt be partaker of her sin4 #aj ,but it is therefore commanded that both the man and the woman should remain unmarried1 because such persons may repent4 #aa ,nor do ,i in this administer any occasion for the doing of these things2 but rather that whoso has offended1 should not offend any more4 #ab ,but for their former sins1 ,god who has the power of healing will give a remedy2 for he has the power of all things4 #ac ,i asked him again1 and said1 ,seeing the ,lord hath thought me worthy that thou shouldest dwell with me continually1 speak a few words unto me1 because ,i understand nothing1 and my heart is hardened through my former conversation2 and open my understanding because ,i am very dull1 and apprehend nothing at all4 #ad ,and he answering said unto me1 ,i am the minister of repentance1 and give understanding to all that repent4 ,does it not seem to thee to be a very wise thing to repent8 ,because he that does so gets great understanding4 #ae ,for he is sensible that he hath sinned and done wickedly in the sight of the ,lord1 and he remembers within himself that he has offended1 and repents and does no more wickedly1 but does that which is good1 and humbles his soul and afflicts it1 because he has offended4 ,you see therefore that repentance is great wisdom4 #af ,and ,i said unto him1 ,for this cause1 sir1 ,i inquire diligently into all things1 because ,i am a sinner1 that ,i may know what ,i must do that ,i may live2 because my sins are many4 #ag ,and he said unto me1 ,thou shalt live if thou shalt keep these my commandments4 ,and whosoever shall hear and do these commands shall live unto ,god4 #ah ,and ,i said unto him1 ,i have even now heard from certain teachers1 that there is no other repentance beside that of baptism1 when we go down into the water1 and receive the forgiveness of our sins2 and that after that1 we must sin no more1 but live in purity4 #ai ,and he said unto me1 ,thou hast been rightly informed4 ,never- the-less seeing now thou inquirest diligently into all things1 ,i will manifest this also unto thee2 yet not so as to give any occasion of sinning1 either to those who shall hereafter believe1 or to those who have already believed in the ,lord4 #bj ,for neither they who have newly believed1 or shall hereafter believe1 have any repentance of sins1 but forgiveness of them4 #ba ,but as to those who have been called to the faith1 and since that are fallen into any gross sin1 the ,lord hath appointed repentance1 because ,god knoweth the thoughts of all men's hearts1 and their infirmities1 and the manifold wickedness of the devil1 who is always contriving something against the servants of ,god1 and maliciously lays snares for them4 #bb ,therefore our merciful ,lord had compassion towards his creature1 and appointed that repentance1 and gave unto me the power of it4 ,and therefore ,i say unto thee1 if any one after that great and holy calling shall be tempted by the devil and sin1 he has one repentance4 ,but if he shall often sin and repent1 it shall not profit such a one2 for he shall hardly live unto ,god4 #bc ,and ,i said1 ,sir1 ,i am restored again to life since ,i have thus diligently hearkened to these commands4 ,for ,i perceive that if ,i shall not hereafter add any more of my sins1 ,i shall be saved4 #bd ,and he said1 ,thou shalt be saved3 and so shall all others1 as many as shall observe these commandments4 #be ,and again ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 seeing thou hearest me patiently1 show me yet one thing more4 ,tell me1 saith he1 what it is4 #bf ,and ,i said1 ,if a husband or a wife die1 and the party which survives marry again1 does he sin in so doing8 ,he that marries says he1 sins not3 howbeit1 if he shall remain single1 he shall thereby gain to himself great honour before the ,lord4 #bg ,keep therefore thy chastity and modesty1 and thou shalt live unto ,god4 ,observe from henceforth those things which ,i speak with thee1 and command thee to observe1 from the time that ,i have been delivered unto thee1 and dwell in thy house4 #bh ,so shall thy former sins be forgiven1 if thou shalt keep these my commandments4 ,and in like manner shall all others be forgiven1 who shall observe these my commandments4 ,,command ,v4 ,of the sadness of the heart1 and of patience4 ,be patient1 says he1 and long- suffering2 so shalt thou have dominion over all wicked works1 and shall fulfil all righteousness4 #b ,for if thou shalt be patient1 the ,holy ,spirit which dwelleth in thee shall be pure1 and not be darkened by any evil spirit2 but being full of joy shall be enlarged1 and feast in the body in which it dwells1 and serve the ,lord with joy1 and in great peace4 #c ,but if any anger shall overtake thee1 presently the ,holy ,spirit which is in thee will be straightened and seek to depart from thee4 #d ,for he is choked by the evil spirit1 and has not the liberty of serving the ,lord as he would2 for he is grieved by anger4 ,when1 therefore1 both these spirits dwell together1 it is destructive to a man4 #e ,as if one should take a little wormwood1 and put it into a vessel of honey1 the whole honey would be spoiled2 and a great quantity of honey is corrupted by a very little wormwood1 and loses the sweetness of honey1 and is no longer acceptable to its ,lord because the whole honey is made bitter1 and loses its use4 #f ,but if no wormwood be put into the honey1 it is sweet and profitable to its ,lord4 ,thus is forbearance sweeter than honey1 and profitable to the ,lord who dwelleth in it4 #g ,but anger is unprofitable4 ,if therefore anger shall be mixed with forbearance1 the soul is distressed1 and its prayer is not profitable with ,god4 #h ,and ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 ,i would know the sinfulness of anger1 that ,i may keep myself from it4 ,and he said unto me1 ,thou shall know it2 and if thou shalt not keep thyself from it1 thou shalt lose thy hope with all thy house4 ,wherefore depart from it4 #i ,for ,i the messenger of righteousness am with thee1 and all that depart from it3 as many as shall repent with all their hearts1 shall live unto ,god2 and ,i will be with them1 and will keep them all4 #aj ,for all such as have repented have been justified by the most holy messenger1 who is a minister of salvation4 #aa ,and now1 says he1 hear the wickedness of anger2 how evil and hurtful is is1 and how it overthrows the servants of ,god2 for it cannot hurt those that are full of faith because the power of ,god is with them2 but it overthrows the doubtful1 and those that are destitute of faith4 #ab ,for as often as it sees such men1 it casts itself into their hearts2 and so a man or woman is in bitterness for nothing3 for the things of life1 or for sustenance1 or for a vain word1 if any should chance to fall in2 or by reason of any friend1 or for a debt1 or for any other superfluous things of the like nature4 #ac ,for these things are foolish1 and superfluous1 and vain to the servants of ,god4 ,but equanimity is strong1 and forcible2 and of great power1 and sitteth in great enlargement2 is cheerful1 rejoicing in peace2 and glorifying ,god at all times ,i with meekness4 #ad ,and this long-suffering dwells with those that are full of faith4 ,but anger is foolish1 and light1 and empty4 ,now bitterness is bred through folly2 by bitterness1 anger2 by anger1 fury2 and this fury arising from so many evil principles1 worketh a great and incurable sin4 #ae ,for when all these things1 are in the same man in which the ,holy ,spirit dwells1 the vessel cannot contain them1 but runs over3 and because the ,spirit being tender cannot tarry with the evil one2 it departs and dwells with him that is meek4 #af ,when1 therefore1 it is departed from the man in whom it dwelt1 that man becomes destitute of the ,holy ,spirit1 and is afterwards filled with wicked spirits1 and is blinded with evil thoughts4 ,thus doth it happen to all angry men4 #ag ,wherefore depart then from anger1 and put on equanimity1 and resist3 wrath2 so then shalt be found with modesty and chastity by ,god4 ,take good heed1 therefore1 that thou neglect not this commandment4 #ah4 ,for if thou shalt obey this command1 then thou shalt also be able to observe the other commandments which ,i shall command thee4 #ai ,wherefore strengthen thyself now in these commands1 that then mayest live unto ,god4 ,and whosoever shall observe these commandments shall live unto ,god4 ,,command ,,vi4 ,that every man has two angels and of the suggestions of both4 ,i ,,commanded thee1 said he1 in my first commandments1 that thou shouldst keep faith and fear1 and repentance4 ,yes1 sir1 said ,i4 #b ,he continued4 ,but now ,i will shew thee the virtues of these commands1 that then mayest know their effects2 how they are prescribed alike to the just and unjust4 #c ,do thou therefore believe the righteous1 but give no credit to the unrighteous4 ,for righteousness keepeth the right way1 but unrighteousness the wicked way4 #d ,do thou therefore keep the right way1 and leave that which is evil4 ,for the evil way has not a good end1 but hath many stumbling- blocks2 it is rugged and full of thorns1 and leads to destruction2 and it is hurtful to all such as walk in it4 #e ,but they who go in the right way walk with evenness1 and without offence2 because it is not rough nor thorny4 #f ,thou seest therefore how it is best to walk in this way4 ,thou shalt therefore go1 says he1 and all others1 as many as believe in ,god with all their heart1 shall go through it4 #g ,and now1 says he1 ,i understand first of all what belongs to faith4 ,there are two angels with man2 one of righteousness1 the other of iniquity4 #h ,and ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 how shall ,i know that there are two such angels with man8 ,hear1 says he1 and understand4 #i ,the angel of righteousness1 is mild and modest1 and gentle1 and quiet4 ,when1 therefore1 he gets into thy heart1 immediately he talks with thee of righteousness1 of modesty1 of chastity1 of bountifulness1 of forgiveness1 of charity1 and piety4 #aj ,when all these things come into thy heart1 know then that the angel of righteousness is with thee4 ,wherefore hearken to this angel and to his works4 #aa ,learn also the works of the angel of iniquity4 ,he is first of all bitter1 and angry1 and foolish2 and his works are pernicious1 and overthrow the servants of ,god4 ,when therefore these things come into thine heart2 thou shalt know by his works1 that this is the angel of iniquity4 #ab ,and ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 how shall ,i understand these things8 ,hear1 says he1 and understand2 ,when anger overtakes thee1 or bitterness1 know that he is in thee3 #ac ,as also1 when the desire of many things1 and of the best meats1 and of drunkenness2 when the love of what belongs to others1 pride1 and much speaking1 and ambition2 and the like things1 come upon thee4 #ad ,when therefore these things arise in thine heart1 know that the angel of iniquity is with thee4 ,seeing therefore thou knowest his works1 depart from them all1 and give no credit to him3 because his works are evil1 and become not the servants of ,god4 #ae ,here therefore thou hast the works of both these angels4 ,understand now and believe the angel of righteousness1 because his instruction is good4 #af ,for let a man be never so happy2 yet if the thoughts of the other angel arise in his heart1 that man or woman must needs sin4 #ag ,but let man or woman be never so wicked1 if the works of the angel of righteousness come into their hearts1 that man or woman must needs do some good4 #ah ,thou seest therefore how it is good to follow the angel of righteousness4 ,if therefore thou shall follow him1 and submit to his works1 thou shalt live unto ,god4 ,and as many as shall submit to his work shall live also unto ,god4 ,,command ,,vii4 ,that we must fear ,god but not the ,devil4 ,,fear ,god1 says he1 and keep his commandments4 ,for if thou keepest his commandments thou shalt be powerful in every work1 and all thy works shall be excellent4 ,for by fearing ,god1 thou shalt do everything well4 #b ,this is that tear with which thou must be affected that thou mayest be saved4 ,but fear not the ,devil3 for if thou fearest the ,lord1 thou shalt have dominion over him2 because there is no power in him4 #c ,now if there be no power in him1 then neither is he to be feared3 for every one that has power1 is to be feared4 ,but he that has no power is despised by every one4 #d ,fear the works of the ,devil1 because they are evil4 ,for by fearing the ,lord1 thou wilt fear and do not the works of the ,devil1 but keep thyself from them4 #e ,there is therefore a twofold fear2 if thou wilt not do evil1 fear the ,lord and thou shalt not do it4 ,but if thou wilt do good1 the fear of the ,lord is strong1 and great and glorious4 #f ,wherefore1 fear ,god and thou shalt live3 and whosoever shall fear him1 and keep his commandments1 their life is with the ,lord4 ,but they who keep them not1 neither is there life in them4 ,,command ,,viii4 ,that we must flee from evil1 and do good works4 ,i ,,have told thee1 said he1 that there are two kinds of creatures of the ,lord1 and that there is a two-fold abstinence4 ,from some things therefore thou must abstain1 and from others not4 #b ,i answered1 ,declare to me1 sir1 from what ,i must abstain1 and from what not4 ,hearken1 said he1 ,keep thyself from evil1 and do it not2 yet abstain not from good1 but do it4 ,for if thou shalt abstain from what is good1 and not do it1 thou shalt sin4 ,abstain therefore from all evil1 and thou shalt know all righteousness4 #c ,i said1 ,what evil things are they from which ,i must abstain8 ,hearken1 said he2 from adultery1 from drunkenness1 from riots1 from excess of eating1 from daintiness and dishonesty1 from pride1 from fraud1 from lying1 from detraction1 from hypocrisy1 from remembrance of injuries1 and from all evil speaking4 #d ,for these are the works of iniquity1 from which the servant of ,god must abstain4 ,for he that cannot keep himself from these things1 cannot live unto ,god4 #e ,but hear1 said he1 what follows of these kind of things3 for indeed many more there are from which the servant of ,god must abstain4 ,from theft1 and cheating2 from false witness1 from covetousness1 from boasting1 and all other things of the like nature4 #f ,do these things seem to thee to be evil or not8 ,indeed they are very evil to the servants of ,god1 ,wherefore the servant of ,god must abstain from all these works4 #g ,keep thyself therefore from them1 that thou mayest live unto ,god1 and be written among those that abstain from them4 ,and thus have ,i shown thee what things thou must avoid3 now learn from what thou must not abstain4 #h ,abstain not from any good works1 but do them4 ,hear1 said he1 what the virtue of those good works is which thou must do1 that thou mayest be saved4 ,the first of all is faith2 the fear of the ,lord2 charity2 concord2 equity2 truth2 patience2 chastity4 #i ,there is nothing better than these things in the life of men2 who shall keep and do these things in their life4 ,hear next what follow these4 #aj ,to minister to the widows2 not to despise the fatherless and poor2 to redeem the servants of ,god from necessity2 to be hospitable 7for in hospitality there is sometimes great fruit72 not to be contentious1 but be quiet4 #aa ,to be humble above all men2 to reverence the aged2 to labour to be righteous2 to respect the brotherhood2 to bear affronts2 to be long-suffering2 not to cast away those that have fallen from the faith1 but to convert them1 and make them be of good cheer3 to admonish sinners2 not to oppress those that are our debtors2 and all other things of a like kind4 #ab ,do these things seem to thee to be good or not8 ,and ,i said1 ,what can be better than these words8 ,live then1 said he1 in these commandments1 and do not depart from them4 ,for if thou shalt keep all these commandments1 thou shalt live unto ,god4 ,and all they that shall keep these commandments shall live unto ,god4 ,,command ,,ix4 ,that we must ask of ,god daily2 and without doubting4 ,,again he said unto me2 remove from thee all doubting2 and question nothing at all when thou askest any thing of the ,lord2 saying within thyself1 how shall ,i be able to ask any thing of the ,lord and receive it1 seeing ,i have so greatly sinned against him8 #b ,do not think thus1 but turn unto the ,lord with all thy heart1 and ask of him without doubting1 and thou shalt know the mercy of the ,lord2 bow that he will not forsake thee1 but will fulfil the request of thy soul4 #c ,for ,god is not as men1 mindful of the injuries he has received2 but he forgets injuries1 and has compassion upon his creature4 #d ,wherefore purify thy heart from all the vices of this present world2 and observe the commands ,i have before delivered unto thee from ,god2 and thon shall receive whatsoever good things thou shalt ask1 and nothing shall be wanting unto thee of all thy petitions2 if thou shalt ask of the ,lord without doubting4 #e ,but they that are not such1 shall obtain none of those things which they ask4 ,for they that are full of faith1 ask all things with confidence1 and receive from the ,lord1 because they ask without doubting4 ,but he that doubts1 shall hardly live unto ,god1 except he repent4 #f ,wherefore purify thy heart from doubting1 and put on faith1 and trust in ,god1 and thou shall receive all that thou shalt ask4 ,but if thou shouldest chance to ask something1 and not immediately receive it1 yet do not therefore doubt1 because thou hast not presently received the petition of thy soul4 #g ,for it may be thou shalt not presently receive it for thy trial1 or else for some sin which thou knowest not4 ,but do not thou leave off to ask1 and then thou shalt receive4 ,else if thou shalt cease to ask1 thou must complain of thyself1 and not of ,god1 that he has not given unto thee what thou didst desire4 #h ,consider therefore this doubting how cruel and pernicious it is2 and how it utterly roots out many from the faith1 who were very faithful and firm4 ,for this doubting is the daughter of the ,devil1 and deals very wickedly with the servants of ,god4 #i ,despise it therefore1 and thou shalt rule over it on every occasion4 ,put on a firm and powerful faith3 for faith promises all things and perfects all things4 ,but doubting will not believe that it shall obtain any thing by all that it can do4 #aj4 ,thou seest therefore1 says he1 how faith cometh from above from ,god2 and hath great power4 ,but doubting is an earthly spirit1 and proceedeth from the ,devil1 and has no strength4 #aa ,do thou therefore keep the virtue of faith1 and depart from doubting1 in which is no virtue1 and thou shalt live unto ,god4 ,and all shall live unto ,god1 as many as do these things4 ,,command ,x4 ,of the sadness of the heart2 and that we must take1 heed not to grieve the spirit of ,god that is in us4 ,,put all sadness far from thee2 for it is the sister of doubting and of anger4 ,how1 sir1 said ,i is it the sister of these8 ,for sadness1 and anger1 and doubting1 seem to me to be very different from one another4 #b ,and he answered3 ,art thou without sense that thou dost not understand it8 ,for sadness is the most mischievous of all spirits1 and the worst to the servants of ,god3 ,it destroys the spirits of all men1 and torments the ,holy ,spirit1 and it saves again4 #c ,sir1 said ,i1 ,i am very foolish1 and understand not these things4 ,i cannot apprehend how it can torment1 and yet save4 ,hear1 said he1 and understand4 ,they who never sought out the truth1 nor inquired concerning the majesty of ,god1 but only believed1 are involved in the affairs of the heathen4 #d ,and there is another lying prophet that destroys the minds of the servants of ,god2 that is of those that are doubtful1 not of those that fully trust in the ,lord4 ,now those doubtful persons come to him1 as to a divine spirit1 and inquire of him what shall befall them4 #e ,and this lying prophet1 having no power in him of the ,divine ,spirit1 answers them according to their demands1 and fills their souls with promises according as they desire4 ,howbeit that prophet is vain1 and answers vain things to those who are themselves vain4 #f ,and whatsoever is asked of him by vain men1 he answers them vainly2 nevertheless he speaketh some things truly4 ,for the ,devil fills him with his spirit1 that he may overthrow some of the righteous4 #g ,whosoever therefore are strong in the faith of the ,lord1 and have put on the truth2 they are not joined to such spirits1 but depart from them4 ,but they that are doubtful1 and often repenting1 like the heathens1 consult them1 and heap up to themselves great sin1 serving idols4 #h ,as many therefore as are such1 inquire of them upon every occasion2 worship idols1 and are foolish2 and void of the truth4 ,for every spirit that is given from ,god needs not to be asked3 but having the power of divinity speaks all things of itself1 because he comes from above2 from the power of ,god4 #aj ,but he1 that being asked speaks according to men's desires and concerning many other affairs of this present world1 understands not the tidings which relate unto ,god4 ,for these spirits are darkened through such affairs1 and corrupted1 and broken4 #aa ,as good vines if they are neglected1 are oppressed with weeds and thorns1 and at last killed by them2 so are the men who believe such spirits4 #ab ,they fall into many actions and businesses1 and are void of sense1 and when they think of things pertaining unto ,god1 they understand nothing at all2 but at any time they chance to hear any thing concerning the ,lord1 their thoughts are upon their business4 #ac ,but they that have the fear of the ,lord1 and search out the truth concerning ,god1 having all their thoughts towards the ,lord2 apprehend whatsoever is said to them1 and forthwith understand it1 because they have the fear of the ,lord in them4 #ad ,for where the spirit of the ,lord dwells1 there is also much understanding added4 ,wherefore join thyself to the ,lord1 and thou shalt understand all things4 #ae ,learn now1 ,o unwise man6 how sadness troubleth the ,holy ,spirit1 and how it saves4 ,when a man that is doubtful is engaged in any affair1 and does not accomplish it by reason of his doubting2 this sadness enters into him1 and grieves the ,holy ,spirit1 and makes him sad4 #af ,again anger1 when it over4 takes any man for any business he is greatly moved2 and then again sadness entereth into the heart of him1 who was moved with anger1 and he is troubled for what he hath done1 and repenteth1 because he hath done amiss4 #ag ,this sadness therefore seemeth to bring salvation1 because he repenteth of his evil deed4 ,but both the other things1 namely1 doubting and sadness1 such as before was mentioned1 vex the spirit3 doubting1 because his work did not succeed2 and sadness1 because he angered the ,holy ,spirit4 #ah ,remove therefore sadness from thyself1 and afflict not the ,holy ,spirit which dwelleth in thee1 lest he entreat ,god1 and depart from thee4 ,for the spirit of the ,lord which is given to dwell in the flesh1 endureth no such sadness4 #ai ,wherefore clothe thyself with cheerfulness1 which has always favour with the ,lord1 and thou shalt rejoice in it4 ,for every cheerful man does well2 and relishes those things that are good1 and despises sadness4 #bj ,but the sad man does always wickedly4 ,first1 he doth wickedly1 because he grieveth the ,holy ,spirit1 which is given to man being of a cheerful nature4 ,and again he does ill1 because be prays with sadness unto the ,lord1 and maketh not first a thankful acknowledgment unto him of former mercies1 and obtains not of ,god what he asks4 #ba ,for the prayer of a sad man has not always efficacy to come up to the altar of ,god4 ,and ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 why has not the prayer of a sad man virtue to come up to the altar of ,god8 ,because1 said he1 that sadness remaineth in his heart4 #bb ,when therefore a man's prayer shall be accompanied with sadness1 it will not suffer his requests to ascend pure to the altar of ,god4 ,for as wine when it is mingled with vinegar1 has not the sweetness it had before2 so sadness being mixed with the ,holy ,spirit1 suffers not a man's prayer to be the same as it would be otherwise4 #bc ,wherefore cleanse thyself from sadness1 which is evil1 and thou shalt live unto ,god4 ,and all others shall live unto ,god1 as many as shall lay aside sadness1 and put on cheerfulness4 ,,command ,,xi4 ,that the spirits and prophets are to be tried by their works2 and of a twofold1 spirit4 ,,he showed me certain men sitting upon benches1 and one sitting in a chair3 and he said unto me2 ,seest thou those who sit upon the benches8 ,sir1 said ,i1 ,i see them4 ,he answered1 ,they are the faithful2 and he who sits in the chair is an earthly spirit4 #b ,for he cometh not into the assembly of the faitful1 but avoids it4 ,but he joins himself to the doubtful and empty2 and prophesies to them in corners and hidden places2 and pleases them by speaking according to all the desires of their hearts4 #c ,for he placing himself among empty vessels1 is not broken1 but the one fitteth the other4 ,but when he cometh into the company of just men1 who are full of the spirit of ,god1 and they pray unto the ,lord2 that man is emptied1 because that earthly spirit flies from him1 and he is dumb1 and cannot speak anything4 #d ,as if in a store-house you shall stop up wine or oil1 and among those vessels place an empty jar2 and when afterwards you come to open it1 you shall find it empty as you stopped it up2 so those empty prophets when they come among the spirits of the just1 are found to be such as they came4 #e ,i said1 ,how then shall a man be able to discern them8 ,consider what ,i am going to say concerning both kinds of men2 and as ,i speak unto thee so shalt thou prove the prophet of ,god1 and the false prophet4 #f ,and first try the man who hath the spirit of ,god1 because the spirit which is from above is humble1 and quiet1 and departs from all wickedness2 and from the vain desires of the present world2 and makes himself more humble than all men2 and answers to none when he is asked2 nor to every one singly3 for the ,spirit of ,god doth not speak to a man when he will1 but when ,god pleases4 #g ,when therefore a man who hath the ,spirit of ,god hath come into the church of the righteous1 who have the faith of ,god1 and they pray unto the ,lord2 then the holy angel of ,god fills that man with the blessed ,spirit1 and he speaks in the congregation as he is moved of ,god4 #h ,thus therefore is the spirit1 of ,god known1 because whosoever speaketh by the ,spirit of ,god1 speaketh as the ,lord will4 #i ,hear now concerning the earthly spirit1 which is empty and foolish1 and without virtue4 ,and first of all the man who is supposed to have the ,spirit1 7whereas he hath it not in reality71 exalteth himself1 and desires to have the first seat1 and is wicked1 and full of words4 #aj ,and spends his time in pleasure1 and in all manner of voluptuousness1 and receives the reward of his divination2 which if he receives not1 he does not divine4 #aa ,should the ,spirit of ,god receive reward1 and divine8 ,it doth not become a prophet of ,god so to do4 #ab ,thus you seethe life of each of these kind of prophets4 ,wherefore prove that man by his life and works1 who says that he hath the ,holy ,spirit4 ,and believe the ,spirit which comes from ,god1 and has power as such4 ,but believe not the earthly and empty spirit1 which is from the devil1 in whom there is no faith nor virtue4 #ac ,hear now the similitude which ,i am about to speak unto thee4 ,take a stone1 and throw it up towards heaven2 or take a spout of water1 and mount it up thitherward2 and see if thou canst reach unto heaven4 #ad ,sir2 said ,i1 how can this be done8 ,for neither of those things which you have mentioned1 are possible to be done4 ,and he answered1 ,therefore as these things cannot be done1 so is the earthy spirit without virtue1 and without effect4 #ae ,understand yet farther the power which cometh from above1 in this similitude4 ,the grains of hail that drop down are exceedingly small2 and yet when they fall upon the head of a man1 how do they cause pain to it4 #af ,and again1 consider1 the droppings of a house2 how the little drops falling upon the earth1 work a hollow in the stones4 #ag ,so in like manner the least things which come from above1 and fall upon the earth1 have great force4 ,wherefore join thyself to this spirit1 which has the power2 and depart from the other which is empty4 ,,command ,,xii4 ,of a two fold desire3 that the commands of ,god1 are not impossible3 and that the devil is not to be feared by them that believe4 ,,again he said unto me2 remove from thee all evil desires1 and put on good and holy desires4 ,for having put on a good desire1 thou shalt hate that which is evil1 and bridle it as thou wilt4 ,but an evil desire is dreadful1 and hard to be tamed4 #b ,it is very horrible and wild2 and by its wildness consumes men4 ,and especially if a servant of ,god shall chance to fall into it1 except he be very wise1 he is ruined by it4 ,for it destroys those who have not the garment of a good desire and are engaged in the affairs of this present world2 and delivers them unto death4 #c ,sir1 said ,i1 what are the works of an evil desire1 which bring men unto death8 ,shew them to me that ,i may depart from them4 ,hear1 said he1 by what works an evil desire bringeth the servants of ,god unto death4 #d ,first of all1 it is an evil desire to covet another man's wife1 or for a woman to covet another's husband2 as also to desire the dainties of riches2 and multitude of superfluous meats2 and drunkenness2 and many delights4 #e ,for in much delicacy there is folly2 and many pleasures are needless to the servants of ,god4 ,such lusting therefore is evil and pernicious1 which brings to death the servants of ,god4 ,for all such lusting is from the devil4 #f ,whosoever therefore shall depart from all evil desires1 shall live unto ,god2 but they that are subject unto them shall die forever4 ,for this evil lusting is deadly4 ,do thou therefore put on the desire of righteousness1 and being armed with the fear of the ,lord resist all wicked lusting4 #g ,for this fear dwelleth in good desires2 and1 when evil coveting shall see thee armed with the fear of the ,lord1 and resisting it2 it will fly far from thee1 and not appear before thee1 but be afraid of thy armour4 #h ,and thou shall have the victory1 and be crowned for it2 and shall attain to that desire which is good2 and shall give the victory which thou hast obtained unto ,god1 and shall serve him in doing what thou thyself wouldest do4 #i ,for if thou shalt serve good desires1 and be subject to them2 then thou shalt be able to get the dominion over thy wicked lustings2 and they will be subject to thee1 as thou wilt4 #aj ,and ,i said1 ,sir1 ,i would know how to serve that desire which is good8 ,hearken1 said he1 ,fear ,god1 and put thy trust in him1 and love truth1 and righteousness1 and do that which is good4 #aj ,if thou shalt do these things1 thou shall be an approved servant of ,god1 and serve him2 and all others who shall in like manner serve a good desire1 shall live unto ,god4 #ab ,and when he had fulfilled these twelve commands1 he said unto me1 ,thou hast now these commands1 walk in them2 and exhort those that hear them1 to repent1 and that they keep their repentance pure all the remaining days of their life4 #ac ,and fulfil diligently this ministry which ,i commit to thee1 and thou shalt receive great advantage by it1 and find favour with all such as shall repent and believe thy words4 ,for ,i am with thee1 and will force them to believe4 #ad ,and ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 these commands are great and excellent1 and able to cheer the heart of that man that shall be able to keep them4 ,but1 ,sir1 ,i cannot tell1 whether they can be observed by any man8 #ae ,he answered1 ,thou shalt easily keep these commands1 and they shall not be hard3 howbeit1 if thou shalt suffer it once to enter into thine heart that they cannot be kept by any one1 thou shalt not fulfil them4 #af ,but now ,i say unto thee1 if thou shalt not observe these commands1 and shall neglect them1 thou shalt not be saved1 nor thy children1 nor thy house3 because thou hast judged that these commands cannot be kept by man4 #ag ,these things he spake very angrily unto me1 insomuch that he greatly affrighted me1 for he changed his countenance so that a man could not bear his anger4 #ah ,and when he saw me altogether troubled and confounded1 he began to speak more moderately and cheerfully1 saying1 ,o foolish1 and without understanding6 #ai ,unconstant1 not knowing the majesty of ,god how great and wonderful he is2 who created the world for man1 and hath made every creature subject unto him2 and given him all power1 that he should be able to fulfil all these commands4 #bj ,he is able1 said he1 to fulfil all these commands1 who has the ,lord in his heart2 but they who have the ,lord only in their mouths1 their hearts are hardened1 and they are far from the ,lord3 to such persons these commands are hard and difficult4 #ba ,therefore1 ye that are empty and light in the faith1 put the ,lord your ,god in your hearts2 and ye shall perceive how that nothing is more easy than these commands1 nor more pleasant1 nor more gentle and holy4 #bb ,and turn yourselves to the ,lord your ,god1 and forsake the devil and his pleasures1 because they are evil1 and bitter1 and impure4 ,and fear not the devil1 because he has no power over you4 #bc ,for ,i am with you1 the messenger of repentance1 who have the dominion over him4 ,the devil doth indeed affright men but his terror is vain4 ,wherefore fear him not1 and he will flee from you4 #bd ,and ,i said unto him2 ,sir1 hear me speak a few words unto you4 ,he answered1 ,say on3 ,a man indeed desires to keep the commandments of ,god1 and there is no one but what prays unto ,god1 that he may be able to keep his commandments2 #be ,but the devil is hard1 and by his power rules over the servants of ,god4 ,and he said2 ,he cannot rule over the servants of ,god1 who trust in him with all their hearts4 #bf ,the devil may strive1 but he cannot overcome them4 #bg ,for if ye resist him1 he will flee away with confusion from you4 ,but they that are not full in the faith1 fear the devil1 as if he had some great power4 ,for the devil tries the servants of ,god and if he finds them empty1 he destroys them4 #bh ,for as man1 when he fills up vessels with good wine1 and among them puts a few vessels half full1 and comes to try and taste of the vessels1 doth not try those that are full1 because he knows that they are good1 but tastes those that are half full1 lest they should grow sour2 7for vessels half full soon grow sour1 and lose the taste of wine37 so the devil comes to the servants of ,god to try them4 #bi ,they that are full of faith resist him stoutly1 and he departs from them1 because he finds no place where to enter into them then he goes to those that are not full of faith1 and because he has a place of entrance he goes into them1 and does what he will with them1 and they become his servants4 #cj ,but ,i1 the messenger of repentance1 say unto you1 fear not the devil1 for ,i am sent unto you1 that ,i may be with you1 as many as shall repent with your whole heart1 and that ,i may confirm you in the faith4 #ca ,believe therefore1 ye who by reason of your transgressions have forgot ,god4 and your own salvation2 and adding to your sins have made your life very heavy4 #cb ,that if ye shall turn to the ,lord with your whole hearts1 and shall serve him according to his will2 he will heal you of your former sins1 and ye shall have dominion over all the works of the devil4 #cc ,be not then afraid in the least of his threatenings1 for they are without force1 as the nerves of a dead man4 ,but hearken unto me1 and fear the ,lord ,almighty1 who is able to save and to destroy you2 and keep his commands1 that ye may live unto ,god4 #cd ,and ,i said unto him2 ,sir1 ,i am now confirmed in all the commands of the ,lord whilst you are with me1 and ,i know that you will break all the powers of the devil4 #ce ,and we also shall overcome him1 if we shall be able1 through the help of the ,lord1 to keep these commands which you have delivered4 #cf ,thou shalt keep them1 said he1 if thou shalt purify thy heart towards the ,lord4 ,and all they also shall keep them who shall cleanse their hearts from the vain desires of the present world1 and shall live unto ,god4 ,,the ,,third ,,part ,,of ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,hermas1 ,,called ,,his ,,similitudes4 ,,similitude ,i4 ,that seeing we have no abiding city in this world1 we ought to look after that which is to come4 ,,and he said onto me2 ,ye know that ye who are the servants of the ,lord1 live here as in a pilgrimage2 for your city is far off from this city4 #b ,if1 therefore1 ye know your city in which ye are to dwell1 why do ye here buy estates1 and provide yourselves with delicacies1 and stately buildings1 and supurfluous houses8 ,for he that provides himself these things in this city1 does not think of returning into his own city4 #c ,o foolish1 and doubtful1 and wretched man2 who understandest not that all these things belong to other men1 and are under the power of another4 ,for the ,lord of this city saith unto thee2 ,either obey my laws1 or depart out of my city4 #d ,what therefore shalt thou do who art subject to a law in thine own city8 ,canst thou for thy estate1 or for any of those things which thou hast provided1 deny thy law8 ,but if thou shalt deny it1 and wilt afterwards return into thy own city1 thou shalt not be received1 but shall be excluded thence4 #e ,see therefore1 that like a man in another country1 thou procure no more to thyself than what is necessary1 and sufficient for thee2 and be ready1 that when the ,god or ,lord of this city shall drive thee out of it thou mayest oppose his law1 and go into thine own city2 where thou mayest with all cheerfulness live according to thine own law with no wrong4 #f ,take heed therefore ye that serve ,god1 and have him in your hearts3 work ye the works of ,god1 being mindful both of his commands and of his promises1 which he has promised2 and be assured that he will make them good unto you2 if ye shall keep his commandments4 #g ,instead therefore of the possessions that ye would otherwise purchase1 redeem those that are in want from their necessities1 as every one is able2 justify the widows2 judge the cause of the fatherless2 and spend your riches and your wealth in such works as these4 #h ,for this end has ,god enriched you1 that ye might fulfil these kind of services4 ,it is much better to do this1 than to buy lands or houses2 because all such things shall perish with this present time4 #i ,but what ye shall do for the name of the ,lord1 ye shall find in your city1 and shall have joy without sadness or fear4 ,wherefore covet not the riches of the heathen2 for they are destructive to the servants of ,god4 #aj ,but trade with your own riches which you possess1 by which ye may attain unto everlasting joy4 #aa ,and do not commit adultery1 nor touch any other man's wife1 nor desire her2 but covet that which is thy own business1 and thou shalt be saved4 ,,similitude ,,ii4 ,as the vine is supported by the elm1 so is the rich man helped by the prayers of the poor4 ,,as ,i was walking into the field1 and considered the elm and the vine1 and thought with myself of their fruits1 an angel appeared unto me1 and said unto me2 ,what is it that thou thinkest upon thus long within thyself8 #b ,and ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 ,i think of this vine and this elm because their fruits are fair4 ,and he said unto me2 ,these two trees are set for a pattern to the servants of ,god4 #c ,and ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 ,i would know in what the pattern of these trees which thou mentionest1 does consist4 ,hearken1 saith he2 seest thou this vine and this elm8 ,sir1 said ,i1 ,i see them4 #d ,this vine1 saith he1 is fruitful1 but the elm is a tree without fruit4 ,nevertheless this vine unless it were set by this elm1 and supported by it1 would not bear much fruit2 but lying along upon the ground1 would bear but ill fruit1 because it did not hang upon the elm2 whereas1 being supported upon the elm1 it bears fruit both for itself and for that4 #e ,see1 therefore1 how the elm gives no less1 but rather more fruit1 than the vine4 ,how1 ,sir1 said ,i1 does it bear more fruit than the vine8 ,because1 said he1 the vine being supported upon the elm gives both much and good fruit2 whereas1 if it lay along upon the ground1 it would bear but little1 and that very ill too4 #f ,this similitude1 therefore1 is set forth to the servants of ,god2 and it represents the rich and poor man4 ,i answered1 ,sir1 make this manifest unto me4 ,hear1 said he2 the rich man has wealth3 howbeit towards the ,lord he is poor2 for he is taken up about his riches1 and prays but little to the ,lord2 and the prayers which he makes are lazy and without force4 #g ,when therefore1 the rich man reaches out to the poor those things which he wants1 the poor man prays unto the ,lord for the rich2 and ,god grants unto the rich man all good things1 because the poor man is rich in prayer2 and his requests have great power with the ,lord4 #h ,then the rich man ministers all thing to the poor1 because he perceives that he is heard by the ,lord2 and he the more willingly and without doubting1 affords him what he wants1 and takes care that nothing be lacking to him4 #i ,and the poor man gives thanks unto the ,lord for the rich2 because they both do their work from the ,lord4 #aj ,with men1 therefore1 the elm is not thought to give any fruit2 and they know not1 neither understand that its company being added to the vine1 the vine bears a double increase1 both for itself and for the elm4 #aa ,even so the poor praying unto the ,lord for the rich1 are heard by him2 and their riches are increased1 because they minister to the poor of their wealth4 ,they are1 therefore1 both made partakers of each other's good works4 #ab ,whosoever1 therefore1 shall do these things1 he shall not be forsaken by the ,lord1 but shall be written in the book of life4 #ac ,happy are they who are rich1 and perceive themselves to be increased3 for he that is sensible of this1 will be able to minister somewhat to others4 ,,similitude ,,iii4 ,as the greet trees in the winter cannot be distinguished from the dry2 so neither can the righteous from the wicked in this present world4 ,,again he showed me many trees whose leaves were shed1 and which seemed to me to be withered1 for they were all alike4 ,and he said unto me1 ,seest thou these trees8 ,i said1 ,sir1 ,i see that they look like dry trees4 #b ,he answering1 said unto me2 ,these trees are like unto the men who live in the present world4 ,i replied3 ,sir1 why are they like unto dried trees8 ,because1 said he1 neither the righteous1 nor unrighteous1 are known from one another2 but all are alike in this present world4 #c ,for this world is as the winter to the righteous men1 because they are not known1 but dwell among sinners4 #d ,as in the winter all the trees having lost their leaves1 are like dry trees2 nor can it be discerned which are dry and which are green3 so in this present world neither the righteous1 nor wicked are discerned from each other2 but they are all alike4 ,,similitude ,,iv4 ,as in the summer the living trees are distinguished from the dry by their fruit and green leaves2 so in the world to come the righteous shall be distinguished from the unrighteous by their happiness4 ,,again he showed me many other trees1 of which some had leaves1 and others appeared dry and withered4 ,and he said unto me1 ,seest thou these trees ,i answered1 ,sir1 ,i see them2 some are dry1 and others full of leaves4 #b ,these trees1 saith be1 which are green1 are the righteous1 who shall possess the world to come4 ,for the world to come1 is the summer to the righteous2 but to sinners it is the winter4 #c ,when1 therefore1 the mercy of the ,lord shall shine forth1 then they who serve ,god shall be made manifest1 and plain unto all4 ,for as in the summer the fruit of every tree is shown and made manifest4 so also the works of the righteous shall be declared and made manifest1 and they shall all be restored in that world merry and joyful4 #d ,for the other kind of men1 namely the wicked1 like the trees which thou rawest dry1 shall1 as such1 be found dry and without fruit in that other world2 and like dry wood shall be burnt2 and it shall be made manifest that they have done evil all the time of their life2 #e ,and they shall be burnt because they have sinned and have not repented of their sins4 ,and also all the other nations shall be burnt1 because they have not acknowledged ,god their ,creator4 #f ,do then1 therefore1 bring forth good fruit1 that in the summer thy fruit may be known2 and keep thyself from much business1 and thou shalt not offend4 ,for they who are involved in much business1 sin much2 because they are taken up with their affairs1 and serve not ,god4 #g ,and how can a man that does not serve ,god1 ask anything of ,god1 and receive it8 ,but they who serve him1 ask and receive what they desire4 #h ,but if a man has only one thing to follow1 he may serve ,god1 because his mind is not taken off from ,god1 but he serves him with a pure mind4 #i ,if1 therefore1 thou shalt do this1 thou mayest have fruit in the world to come2 and as many as shall do in like manner1 shall bring forth fruit4 ,,similitude ,v4 ,of a true fast1 and the rewards of it3 also of the cleanliness of the body4 ,,as ,i was fasting1 and sitting down in a certain mountain1 and giving thanks unto ,god for all the things that he had done unto me2 behold1 ,i saw the ,shepherd1 who was wont to converse with me1 sitting by me1 and saying unto me3 ,what has brought thee hither thus early in the morning8 ,i answered1 ,sir1 to-day ,i keep a station4 #b ,he answered1 ,what is a station2 ,i replied1 it is a fast4 ,he said1 ,what is that fast8 ,i answered1 ,i fast as ,i have been wont to do4 ,ye know not1 said he1 what it is to fast unto ,god2 nor is this a fast which ye keep1 profiting nothing with ,god4 #c ,sir1 said ,i1 what makes you speak thus8 ,he replied1 ,i speak it1 because it is not the true fast which you think that you keep2 but ,i will show you what that is which is a complete fast1 and acceptable unto ,god4 #d ,hearken1 said he1 ,the ,lord does not desire such a needless fast2 for by fasting in this manner1 thou advancest nothing in righteousness4 #e ,but the true fast is this3 ,do nothing wickedly in thy life1 but serve ,god with a pure mind2 and keep his commandments1 and walk according to his precepts1 nor suffer any wicked desire to enter into the mind4 #f ,but trust in the ,lord1 that if thou dost these things1 any fearest him1 and abstaineth from every evil work1 thou shall live unto ,god4 #g ,if thou shalt do this1 thou shall perfect a great fast1 and an acceptable one unto the ,lord4 #h ,hearken unto the similitude which ,i am about to propose unto thee1 as to this matter4 #i ,a certain man having a farm1 and many servants1 planted a vineyard in a certain part of his estate for his posterity3 #aj ,and taking a journey into a far country1 chose one of his servants which he thought the most faithful and approved1 and delivered the vineyard into his care2 commanding him that he should stake up the vines4 ,which if he did1 and fulfilled his command1 he promised to give him his liberty4 ,nor did he command him to do any thing more2 and so went into a far country4 #aa ,and after that servant had taken that charge upon him1 he did whatsoever his lord commanded him4 ,and when he had staked the vineyard1 and found it to be full of weeds1 he began to think within himself1 saying3 #ab ,i have done what my lord commanded me1 ,i will now dig this vineyard1 and when it is digged1 it will be more beautiful2 and the weeds being pulled up1 it will bring forth more fruit and not be choked by the weeds4 #ac ,so setting about this work he digged it1 and plucked up all the weeds that were in it2 and so the vineyard became very beautiful and prosperous1 not being choked with weeds4 #ad ,after some time the lord of the vineyard comes and goes into the vineyard1 and when he saw that it was handsomely staked and digged1 and the weeds plucked up that were in it1 and the vines flourishing1 he rejoiced greatly at the care of his servant4 #ae ,and calling his son whom he loved1 and who was to be his heir1 and his friends with whom he was wont to consult2 he tells them what he had commanded his servant to do1 and what his servant had done more2 and they immediately congratulated that servant1 that he had received so full a testimony from his lord4 #af ,then he said to them1 ,i indeed promised this servant his liberty1 if he observed the command which ,i gave him2 and he observed it1 and besides has done a good work to my vineyard1 which has exceedingly pleased me4 #ag ,wherefore1 for this work which he hath done1 ,i will make him my heir together with my son2 because that when he saw what was good1 he neglected it not1 but did it4 #ah ,this design of the lord both his son and his friends approved1 namely1 that his servant should be heir together with his son4 #ai ,not long after this the master of the family calling together1 his friends1 sent from his supper several kinds of food to that servant4 #bj ,which when he had received1 he took so much of them as was sufficient for himself1 and divided the rest among his fellow-servants4 #ba ,which when they had received1 they rejoiced2 and wished that he might find yet greater favour with his lord1 for what he had done to them4 #bb ,when his lord heard all these things1 he was again filled with great joy3 and calling again his friends and his son together1 he related to them what his servant had done with the meats which he had sent unto him4 #bc ,they therefore so much the more assented to the master of the household2 and he ought to make that servant his heir together with his son4 #bd ,i said unto him1 sir1 ,i know not these smilitudes1 neither can ,i understand them1 unless you expound them unto me4 ,i will1 says he1 expound1 all things unto thee whatsoever ,i have talked with thee1 or shown unto thee4 #be ,keep the commandments of the ,lord and thou shalt be approved1 and shall be written in the number of those that keep his commandments4 ,but if besides those things which the ,lord hath commanded1 thou shalt add some good thing2 thou shall purchase to thyself a greater dignity1 and be in more favour with the ,lord than thou shouldst otherwise have been4 #bf ,if therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the ,lord1 and shalt add to them these stations1 thou shall rejoice2 but especially if thou shalt keep them according to my commands4 #bg ,i said unto him1 sir1 whatsoever thou shah command me1 ,i will observe2 for ,i know that thou wilt be with me4 ,i will1 said he1 be with thee who hast taken up such a resolution2 and ,i will be with all those who purpose in like manner4 #bh ,this fast1 saith he1 whilst thou dost also observe the commandments of the ,lord1 is exceeding good2 therefore thus shalt thou keep it4 #bi ,first of all1 take heed to thyself1 and keep thyself from every wicked act1 and from every filthy word1 and from every hurtful desire2 and purify thy mind from all the vanity of this present world4 ,if thou shalt observe these things1 this fast shall be right4 #cj ,thus therefore do4 ,having performed what is before written1 that day on which thou fastest thou shalt taste nothing at all but bread and water2 and computing the quantity of food which thou art want to eat upon other days1 thou shalt lay aside the expense which thou shouldest have made that day1 and give it unto the widow1 the fatherless1 and the poor4 #ca ,and thus thou shalt perfect the humiliation of thy soul2 that he who receives of it may satisfy his soul1 and his prayer come up to the ,lord ,god for thee4 #cb ,if therefore thou shalt thus accomplish thy fast1 as ,i command thee1 thy sacrifice shall be acceptable unto the ,lord1 and thy fast shall be written in his book4 #cc ,this station1 thus performed1 is good and pleasing and acceptable unto the ,lord4 ,these things if thou shalt observe with thy children and with all thy house1 thou shalt be happy4 #cd ,and whosoever1 when they hear these things1 shall do them1 they also shall be happy2 and whatsoever they shall ask of the ,lord they shall receive it4 #ce ,and ,i prayed him that he would expound unto me the similitude of the farm1 and the ,lord1 and of the vineyard1 and of the servant that had staked the vineyard2 and of the weeds that were plucked out of the vineyard2 and of his son and his friends which he took into counsel with him2 for ,i understand that that was a similitude4 #cf ,he said unto me1 ,thou art very bold in asking2 for thou oughtest not to ask any thing2 because if it be fitting to show it unto thee1 it shall be showed unto thee4 #cg ,i answered him2 ,sir1 whatsoever thou shalt show me1 without explaining it unto me1 ,i shall in vain see it1 if ,i do not understand what it is4 ,and if thou shalt propose any similitudes1 and not expound them1 ,i shall in vain hear them4 #ch ,he answered me again1 saying3 ,whosoever is the servant of ,god1 and has the ,lord in his heart1 he desires understanding of him1 and receives it2 and he explains every similitude1 and understands the words of the ,lord which need an inquiry4 #ci ,but they that are lazy and slow to pray1 doubt to seek from the ,lord3 although the ,lord be of such an extraordinary goodness1 that without ceasing he giveth all things to them that ask of him4 #dj ,thou therefore who art strengthened by that venerable messenger1 and hast received such a powerful gift of prayer2 seeing thou art not slothful1 why dost thou not now ask understanding of the ,lord1 and receive it8 #da ,i said unto him2 seeing ,i have thee present1 it is necessary that ,i should seek it of thee1 and ask thee2 for thou shewest all things unto me1 and speakest to me when thou art present4 #db ,but if ,i should see or hear these things when thou wert not present1 ,i would then ask the ,lord that he would chew them unto me4 #dc ,and he replied1 ,i said a little before that thou wert subtle and bold1 in that thou asketh the meaning of these similitudes4 #dd ,but because thou still persistest1 ,i will unfold to thee this parable which then desirest1 that thou mayest make it known unto all men4 #de ,hear1 therefore1 said he1 and understand4 ,the farm before mentioned denotes the whole earth4 ,the ,lord of the farm is he1 who created and finished all things2 and gave virtue unto them4 #df ,his son is the ,holy ,spirit2 the servant is the ,son of ,god3 the vineyard is the people whom he saves4 ,the stakes are the messengers which are set oven them by the ,lord1 to support his people4 ,the weeds that are plucked up out of the vineyard1 are the sins which the servants of ,god had committed4 #dg ,the food which he sent him from his supper1 are the commands which he gave to his people by his ,son4 ,the friends whom he called to counsel with him1 are the holy angels whom he first created4 ,the absence of the master of the household1 is the time that remains unto his coming4 #dh ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 all these things are very excellent1 and wonderful1 and good4 ,but1 continued ,i1 could ,i or any other man besides1 though never so wise1 have understood these things8 #di ,wherefore now1 sir1 tell me1 what ,i ask4 ,he replied1 ask me what thou wilt4 ,why1 said ,i1 is the ,son of ,god in this parable1 put in the place of a servant4 #ej ,hearken1 he said3 the ,son of ,god is not put in the condition of a servant1 but in great power and authority4 ,i said unto him1 how1 sir8 ,i understand it not4 #ea ,because1 said he1 the ,son set his messengers over those whom the ,father delivered unto him1 to keep every one of them2 but he himself laboured very much1 and suffered much1 that he might blot out their offences4 #eb ,for no vineyard can be digged without much labour and pains4 ,wherefore having blotted out the sins of his people1 he showed to them the paths of life1 giving them the law which he had received of the ,father4 #ec ,you see1 said he1 that he is the ,lord of his people1 having received all power from his ,father4 ,but why the lord did take his son into counsel1 about dividing the inheritance1 and the good angels1 hear now4 #ed ,that ,holy ,spirit1 which was created first of all1 he placed in the body in which ,god should dwell2 namely1 in a chosen body1 as it seemed good to him4 ,this body therefore into which the ,holy ,spirit was brought1 served that ,spirit1 walking rightly and purely in modesty2 nor ever defiled that ,spirit4 #ee ,seeing therefore the body at all times obeyed the ,holy ,spirit1 and laboured rightly and chastely with him1 nor faltered at anytime2 that body being wearied conversed indeed servilely1 but being mightily approved to ,god with the ,holy ,spirit1 was accepted by him4 #ef ,for such a stout course pleased ,god1 because he was not defiled in the earth1 keeping the ,holy ,spirit4 ,he called therefore to counsel his ,son1 and the good angels1 that there might be some place of standing given to this body which had served the ,holy ,spirit without blame2 lest it should seem to have lost the reward of its service4 #eg ,for every pure body shall receive its reward2 that is found without spot1 in which the ,holy ,spirit has been appointed to dwell4 ,and thus you have now the exposition of this parable also4 #eh ,sir1 said ,i1 ,i now understand your meaning1 since ,i have heard this exposition4 ,hearken farther1 said he3 keep this thy body clean and pure1 that the ,spirit which shall dwell in it may bear witness unto it1 and be judged to have been with thee4 #ei ,also take heed that it be not instilled into thy mind that this body perishes1 and thou abuse it to any lust4 ,for if thou shalt defile thy body1 thou shalt also at the same time defile the ,holy ,spirit2 and if thou shalt defile the ,holy ,spirit1 thou shall not live4 #fj ,and ,i said1 ,what if through ignorance this should have been already committed1 before a man heard these words2 ,how can he attain into salvation1 who has thus defiled his body8 #fa ,he replied1 ,as for men's former actions which through ignorance they have committed1 ,god only can afford a remedy unto them2 for all the power belongeth unto him4 #fb ,but now guard thyself2 and seeing ,god is almighty and merciful1 he will grant a remedy to what thou hast formerly done amiss1 if for the time1 to come thou shalt not defile thy body and spirit3 #fc ,for they are companions together1 and the one cannot be defiled but the other will be so too4 ,keep therefore both of them pure1 and thou shalt live unto ,god4 ,,similitude ,,vi4 ,of two sorts of voluptuous men1 and of their death and defection2 and of the continuance of their pains4 ,,as ,i was sitting at home1 and praising ,god for all the things which ,i had seen2 and was thinking concerning the commands1 that they were exceedingly good1 and great1 and honest1 and pleasant1 and such as were able to bring a man to salvation2 ,i said thus within myself1 ,i shall be happy if ,i walk according to these commands2 and whosoever shall walk in them shall live unto ,god4 #b ,whilst ,i was speaking on this wise within myself1 ,i saw him whom ,i had before been wont to see1 sitting by me2 and he spake thus unto me3 #c ,what doubtest thou concerning my commands which ,i have delivered unto thee8 ,they are good1 doubt not1 but trust in the ,lord1 and thou shalt walk in them2 for ,i will give thee strength to fulfil them4 #d ,these commands are profitable to those who shall repent of the sins which they have formerly committed2 if for the time to come they shall not continue in them4 #e ,whosoever therefore ye be that repent1 cast away from you the naughtiness of the present world2 and put on all virtue1 and righteousness1 and so shall ye be able to keep these commands2 and not sin from henceforth any more4 #f ,for if ye shall keep yourselves from sin for the time to come1 ye shall cut off a great deal of your former sins4 ,walk in my commands1 and ye shall live unto ,god3 ,these things have ,i spoken unto you4 #g ,and when he1 had said this1 he added2 let us go into the field1 and ,i will show thee shepherds of sheep4 ,i replied1 sir1 let us go4 #h ,and we came into a certain field1 and there he showed me a young shepherd1 finely arrayed1 with his garments of a purple colour4 ,and he fed large flocks2 and his sheep were full of pleasure1 and in much delight and cheerfulness2 and they skipping1 ran here and there4 #i ,and the shepherd took very great satisfaction in his flock2 and the countenance of that shepherd was cheerful1 running up and down among his flock4 #aj ,then the angel said unto me1 ,seest then this shepherd8 ,i answered1 sir1 ,i see him4 ,he said unto me1 this is the messenger of delight and pleasure4 ,he therefore corrupts the minds of the servants of ,god1 and turns them from the truth1 delighting them with many pleasures1 and they perish4 #aa ,for they forget the commands of the living ,god1 and live in luxury and in vain pleasures1 and are corrupted by the evil angel1 some of them even unto death2 and others to a falling away4 #ab ,i replied2 ,i understand not what you mean1 by saying unto death1 and to a falling away4 ,hear1 says he2 all those sheep which thou sawest exceeding joyful1 are such as have for ever departed from ,god1 and given selves up to the lusts of this present time4 #ac ,to these therefore there is no return1 by repentance1 unto life2 because1 to their other sins they have added this1 that they have blasphemed the name of the lord3 ,these kind of men are ordained unto death4 #ad ,but those sheep which thou sawest not leaping1 but feeding in one place2 are such as have indeed given themselves up to pleasure and delights2 but have not spoken anything wickedly against the ,lord4 #ae ,these therefore are only fallen off from the truth1 and so have yet hope laid up for them in repentance4 ,for such a falling off hath some hope still left of a renewal2 but they that are dead1 are utterly gone for ever4 #af ,again we went a little farther forward1 and he showed me a great shepherd1 who had as it were a rustic figure2 clad with a white goat's skin1 having his bag upon his shoulder1 and in his hand a stick full of knots1 and very hard1 and a whip in his other hand2 and his countenance was stern and sour1 enough to affright a man2 such was his look4 #ag ,he took from that young shepherd such sheep as lived in pleasures1 but did not skip up and down2 and drove them into a certain steep craggy place fall of thorns and briars1 insomuch that they could not get themselves free from them3 #ah ,but being entangled in them1 fed upon thorns and briars1 and were grievously tormented with his whipping4 ,for he still drove them on1 and afforded them not any place1 or time1 to stand still4 #ai ,when therefore ,i saw them so cruelly whipped and afflicted1 ,i was grieved for them2 because they were greatly tormented1 nor had they any rest afforded them4 #bj ,and ,i said unto the shepherd that was with me3 ,sir1 who is this cruel and implacable shepherd1 who is moved with no compassion towards these sheep8 ,he answered1 ,this shepherd is indeed one of the holy angels1 but is appointed for the punishment of sinners4 #ba ,to him therefore are delivered those who have erred from ,god1 and served the lusts and pleasures of this world4 ,for this cause he punishes them every one according to their deserts1 with cruel and various kinds of pains4 #bb ,sir1 said ,i1 ,i would know what kind of pains they are which every one undergoes8 ,hearken1 said he2 ,the several pains and torments are those which men every day undergo in their present lives4 ,for some suffer losses2 others poverty2 others divers sicknesses4 ,some are unsettled2 others suffer injuries from those that are unworthy2 others fall under many other trials and inconveniences4 #bc ,for many with an unsettled design at many things1 and it profiteth them not2 and they say that they have not success in their undertakings4 #bd ,they do not call to their mind what they have done amiss1 and they complain of the ,lord4 ,when therefore they shall have undergone all kind of vexation and inconvenience2 then they are delivered over to me for good instruction1 and are confirmed in the ,faith of the ,lord1 and serve the ,lord all the rest of their days with a pure mind4 #be ,and when they begin to repent of their sins1 then they call to mind their works which they have done amiss1 and give honour to ,god1 saying1 that he is a just ,judge1 and they have deservedly suffered all things according to their deeds4 #bf ,then for what remains of their lives1 they serve ,god with a pure mind2 and have success in all their undertakings1 and receive from the ,lord whatever they desire4 #bg ,and then they give thanks unto the ,lord that they were delivered unto me2 nor do they suffer any more cruelty4 #bh ,i said unto him2 ,sir1 ,i entreat you still to show me now one thing4 ,what1 said he1 dost thou ask8 ,i said unto him2 ,are they who depart from the fear of ,god1 tormented for the same time that they enjoyed their false delight and pleasures8 ,he answered me2 they are tormented for the same time4 #bi ,and ,i said unto him2 ,they are then tormented but little2 whereas they who enjoy their pleasures so as to forget ,god1 ought to endure seven times as much punishment4 #cj ,he answered me2 ,thou art foolish1 neither understandest thou the efficacy of this punishment4 ,i said unto him2 ,sir1 if ,i understood it1 ,i would not desire you to tell me4 #ca ,hearken1 said he1 and learn what the force of both is1 both of the pleasure and of the punishment4 ,an hour of pleasure is terminated within its own space3 but one hour of punishment has the efficacy of thirty days4 a ,whosoever therefore enjoys his false pleasure for one day1 and is one day1 tormented2 that one day of punishment is equivalent to a whole year's space4 #cb ,thus look how many days any one pursues his pleasures1 so many years is he punished for it4 ,you see therefore how that the time of worldly enjoyments is but short2 but that of pain and torments1 a great deal more4 #cc ,i replied2 ,sir1 forasmuch as ,i do not understand at all these times of pleasure and pain2 ,i entreat you that you would explain yourself more clearly concerning them4 ,he answered me1 saying2 ,thy foolishness still sticks unto thee4 #cd4 ,shouldst thou not rather purify thy mind1 and serve ,god8 ,take heed1 lest when thy time is fulfilled1 thou be found still unwise4 ,hear then1 as thou desirest1 that thou mayest the more easily understand4 #ce ,he that gives himself up one day to his pleasures and delights1 and does whatsoever his soul desires1 is full of great folly1 nor understands what he does1 but the day following forgets what he did the day before4 #cf ,for delight and worldly pleasure are not kept in memory1 by reason of the folly that is rooted in them4 ,but when pain and torment befal a man a day1 he is in effect troubled the whole year after2 because his punishment continues firm in his memory4 #cg ,wherefore he remembers it with sorrow the whole year2 and then calls to mind his vain pleasure and delight1 and perceives that for the sake of that he was punished4 #ch ,whosoever therefore have delivered themselves over to such pleasures1 are thus punished2 because that when they had life1 they rendered themselves liable to death4 #ci ,i said unto him2 ,sir1 what pleasures are hurtful8 ,he answered2 ,that is pleasure to every man which he doth willingly4 #dj ,for the angry man1 gratifying his passion1 perceives pleasure in it2 and so the adulterer1 and drunkard2 the slanderer and liar2 the covetous man and the defrauder2 and whosoever commits anything like unto these1 he followeth his evil disposition1 because he receives a satisfaction in the doing of it4 #da ,all these pleasures and delights are hurtful to the servants of ,god4 ,for these therefore they are tormented and suffer punishment4 #db ,there are also pleasures that bring salvation unto men4 ,for many1 when they do what is good1 find pleasure in it1 and are attracted by the delights of it4 #dc ,now this pleasure is profitable to the servants of ,god1 and brings life to such men2 but those hurtful pleasures1 which were before mentioned1 bring torments and punishment4 #dd ,and whosoever shall continue in them1 and shall not repent of what they have done1 shall bring death upon themselves4 ,,similitude ,,vii4 ,that they who repent1 must bring forth1 fruits worthy of repent once4 ,,after a few days ,i saw the same person that before talked with me1 in the same field1 in which ,i had seen those shepherds1 ,and he said unto me2 ,what seekest thou8 ,sir1 said ,i1 ,i came to entreat you that ,you would command the shepherd1 who is the minister of punishment1 to depart out of my house1 because he greatly afflicts me4 #c ,and he answered1 ,it is necessary for thee to endure inconveniencies and vexations2 for so that good angel hath commanded concerning thee1 because he would try thee4 #d ,sir1 said ,i2 ,what so great offence have ,i committed1 that ,i should be delivered to this messenger8 ,hearken1 said he3 ,thou art indeed guilty of many sins1 yet not so many that thou shouldest be delivered to this messenger4 #e ,but thy house hath committed many sins and offences1 and therefore that good messenger being grieved at their doings commanded that for some time thou shouldst suffer affliction2 that they may both repent of what they have done1 and may wash themselves from all the lusts of this present world4 #f ,when therefore they shall have repented1 and be purified1 then that messenger which is appointed over thy punishment1 shall depart from thee4 #g ,i said unto him2 ,sir1 if they have behaved themselves so as to anger that good angel1 yet what have ,i done8 ,he answered3 ,they cannot otherwise be afflicted1 unless thou1 who art the head of the family1 suffer4 #h ,for whatsoever thou shalt suffer1 they must needs feel it but as long as thou shalt stand well established1 they cannot experience any vexation4 #i ,i replied2 ,but1 sir1 behold they also now repent with all their hearts4 ,i know1 says he1 that they repent with all their hearts2 but dost thou therefore think that their offences who repent1 are immediately blotted out4 #aj ,no1 they are not presently2 but he that repents must afflict his soul and show himself humble in all his affairs1 and undergo many and divers vexations4 #aa ,and when he shall have suffered all things that were appointed for him2 then perhaps ,,he that made him1 and formed all things besides1 will be moved with compassion towards him1 and afford him some remedy2 and especially if ,,he shall perceive his heart who repents1 to be free from every evil work4 #ab ,but at present it is expedient for thee1 and for thy house1 to be grieved2 and it is needful that thou shoudest endure much vexation1 as the angel of the ,lord who committed thee unto me1 has commanded4 #ac ,rather give thanks unto the ,lord1 that knowing what was to come he thought thee worthy1 to whom he should foretel that trouble was coming upon thee1 who art able to bear it4 #ad ,i said unto him2 ,sir1 but be thou also with me1 and ,i shall easily undergo any trouble4 ,i will1 said he1 be with thee2 and ,i will entreat the messenger who is set over thy punishment1 that he would moderate his afflictions towards thee4 #ae ,and moreover thou shalt suffer adversity but for a little time2 and then thou shalt again be restored to thy former state2 only continue on in the humility of thy mind4 #af ,obey the ,lord with a pure heart2 thou1 and thy house1 and thy children2 and4 walk in the commands which ,i have delivered unto thee2 and then thy repentance may be firm and pure4 #ag ,and if thou shalt keep these things with thy house1 thy inconveniencies shall depart from thee4 #ah ,and all vexation shall in like manner depart from those1 whosoever shall walk according to these commands4 ,,similitude ,,viii4 ,that there are many kinds of elect1 and of repenting sinners3 and how all of theca shall receive a reward proportionable to the measure of their repentance and good works4 ,,again he showed me a willow which covered the fields and the mountains1 under whose shadow came all such as were called by the name of the ,lord4 #b ,and by that willow stood an4 angel of the ,lord very excellent and lofty1 and did cut down bows from the willow with a great hook2 and reached out to the people that were under the shadow of the willow1 little rods1 as it were about a foot long4 #c ,and when all of them had taken them1 he laid aside his hook1 and the tree continued entire1 as ,i had before seen it2 at which ,i wondered1 and mused within myself4 #d ,then that shepherd said unto me2 ,forbear to wonder that the tree continues whole1 not-with-standing so many boughs have been cut off from it3 but stay a little1 for now it shall be shown thee1 what that angel means1 who gave those rods to the people4 #e ,so he again demanded the rods of them2 and in the same order that every one had received them1 was he called to him1 and restored his rod2 which when he had received1 he examined them4 #f ,from some he received them dry and rotten1 and as it were touched with the moth2 those he commanded to be separated from the rest1 and placed by themselves4 ,others gave in their rods dry indeed1 but not touched with the moth3 these also he ordered to be set by themselves4 #g ,others gave in their rods half dry2 these also were set apart1 ,others gave in their rods half dry and cleft2 these too were set by themselves4 ,others brought in their rods half dry and half green1 and these were in like manner placed by themselves4 #h ,others delivered up their rods two parts green1 and the third dry2 and they too were set apart4 ,others brought their rods two parts dry1 and the third green2 and were also placed by themselves4 #i ,others delivered up their rods less dry 7for there was but a very little1 to wit1 their tops dry71 but they had clefts1 and these were set in like manner by themselves4 ,in the rods of others there was but a little green1 and the rest dry2 and these were set aside by themselves4 #aj ,others came1 and brought their rods green as they had received them1 and the greatest part of the people brought their rods thus2 and the messenger greatly rejoiced at these1 and they also were put apart by themselves4 #aa ,others brought in their rods not only green1 but full of branches2 and these were set aside1 being also received by the angel with great joy4 ,others brought their rods green with branches1 and those also some fruit upon them4 #ab ,they who had such rods1 were very cheerful2 and the angel himself took great joy at them2 nor was the shepherd that stood with me1 less pleased with them4 #ac ,then the angel of the ,lord commanded crowns to be brought1 and the crowns were brought made of palms2 and the angel crowned those men in whose rods he found the young branches with fruit1 and commanded them to go into the tower4 #ad ,he also sent those into the tower1 in whose hands he found branches without fruit1 giving a seal unto them4 ,for they had the same garment1 that is1 one white as snow2 with which he bade them go into the tower ,and so he did to those who returned their rods green as they had received them2 giving them a white garment1 and so sent them away to go into the tower4 #ae ,having done this1 he said to the shepherd that was with me1 ,i go my way2 but do thou send these within the walls1 every one into the place in which he has deserved to dwell2 examining first their rods1 but examine them diligently that no one deceive thee2 and if any one shall escape thee1 ,i will try them upon the altar4 ,having said this to the shepherd1 he departed4 #af ,after he was gone1 the shepherd said unto me2 ,let us take the rods from them1 and plant them2 if perchance they may grow green again4 ,i said unto him2 ,sir1 how can those dry rods ever grow green again8 #ag ,he answered me2 ,that tree4 is a willow1 and always loves to live4 ,if therefore these rods shall be planted1 and receive a little moisture1 many of them will recover themselves4 #ah ,wherefore ,i will try1 and will pour water upon them1 and if any of them can live1 ,i will rejoice with them2 but if not1 at least by this means ,i shall be found not to have neglected my part4 #ai ,then he commanded me to call them2 and they all came unto him1 every one in the rank in which he stood1 and gave him their rods2 which having received he planted every one of them in their several orders4 #bj ,and after he had planted them all1 he poured much water upon them1 insomuch that they were covered with water1 and did not appear above it4 ,then when he had watered them1 he said unto me2 ,let us depart1 and after a little time we will return and visit them4 #ba ,for he who created this tree1 would have all those live that received rods from it4 ,and ,i hope now that these rods are thus watered1 many of them receiving in the moisture1 will recover3 #bb ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 tell me what this tree denotes8 ,for ,i am greatly astonished1 that after so many branches have been cut off1 it seems still to be whole3 nor does there any thing the less of it appear to remain1 which greatly amazes me4 #bc ,he answered1 ,hearken4 ,this great tree which covers the plains and the mountains1 and all the earth1 is the law of ,god1 published throughout the whole world4 #bd ,now this law is the ,son of ,god1 who is preached to all the ends of the earth4 ,the people that stand under its shadow1 are those which have heard his preaching1 and believed4 #be ,the great and venerable angel which you saw1 was ,michael who had the power over his people1 and governs them4 ,for he has planted the law in the hearts of those who have believed3 and therefore he visits them to whom lie has given the law1 to see if they have kept it4 #bf ,and he examines every one's rod2 and of those1 many that are weakened3 for those rods are the law of the ,lord4 ,then he discerns all those who have not kept the law1 knowing the place of every one of them4 #bg ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 why did he send away some to the tower1 and left others here to you8 ,he replied1 those who have transgressed the law1 which they received from him1 are left in my power1 that they may repent of their sins3 but they who fulfilled this law and kept it1 are under his power4 #bh ,but who then1 said ,i1 are those1 who went into the tower crowned8 ,he replied1 all such as having striven with the devil1 have overcome him1 are crowned3 and they are those1 who have suffered hard things1 that they might keep the law4 #bi ,but they who gave up their rods green1 and with young branches1 but without fruit1 have indeed endured trouble for the same law1 but have not suffered death2 neither have they denied their holy law4 #cj ,they who delivered up their rods green as they received them1 are those who were modest and just1 and have lived with a very pure mind1 and kept the commandments of ,god4 #ca ,the rest thou shalt know1 when ,i shall have considered those rods which ,i have planted and watered4 #cb ,after a few days we returned1 and in the same place stood that glorious angel1 and ,i stood by him4 ,then he said unto me2 ,gird thyself with a towel1 and serve me4 #cc ,and ,i girded myself with a clean towel1 which was made of coarse cloth4 ,and when he saw me girded1 and ready to minister unto him1 he said1 ,call those men whose rods have been planted1 every one in his order as he gave them4 #cd ,and he brought me into the field1 and ,i called them all1 and they all stood ready in their several ranks4 ,then he said unto them2 let every one pluck up his rod1 and bring it unto me4 ,and first they delivered theirs1 whose rods had been dry and rotten4 #ce ,and those whose rods still continued so1 he commanded to stand apart4 ,then they came whose rods had been dry but not rotten4 ,some of these delivered4 in their rods green2 others dry and rotten1 as if they had been touched by the moth4 #cf ,those who gave them up green1 he commanded to stand apart3 but those whose rods were dry and rotten1 he caused to stand with the first sort4 ,then came they whose rods had been half dry1 and cleft3 many of these gave up their rods green1 and uncleft4 #cg ,others delivered them up green with branches1 like unto theirs who went crowned into the tower4 ,others delivered them up dry1 but not rotten2 and some gave them up as they were before1 all dry1 and cleft4 #ch ,every one of these he ordered to stand apart2 some by themselves1 others in their respective ranks4 #cb ,then came they whose rods had been green1 but cleft4 ,these delivered their rods altogether green1 and stood in their own order4 ,and the shepherd rejoiced at these1 because they were all changed1 and free from their clefts4 #dj ,then they gave in their rods1 who had them half green and half dry4 ,of these some were found wholly green1 others half dry3 others green1 with young shoots4 ,and all these were sent away1 every one to his proper rank4 #da ,then they gave up their rods1 who had them before two parts green1 and the third dry4 ,many of those gave in their rods green2 many half dry2 the rest dry but not rotten4 ,so these were sent away1 each to his proper place4 #db ,then came they who before had their rods two parts dry and the third green2 many of these delivered up their rods half dry1 others dry and rotten2 others half dry and cleft3 but few green4 ,and all these were set every one in his own rank4 #dc ,then they reached in their rods1 in which there was before but a little green1 and the rest dry4 ,their rods were for the most part found green1 having little boughs1 with fruit upon them2 and the rest altogether green4 #dd ,and the shepherd upon sight of these rejoiced exceedingly1 because he had found them thus2 and they also went to their proper orders4 #de ,now after he had examined all their rods1 he said unto me1 ,i told thee that this tree loved life thou seest how many have repented1 and attained unto salvation4 ,sir1 said ,i1 ,i see it4 #df ,that thou mightest know saith he1 that the goodness and mercy of the ,lord is great1 and to be had in honour2 who gave his spirit to them that were found worthy of repentance4 #dg ,i answered1 ,sir1 why then did not all of them repent8 ,he replied1 ,those whose minds the ,lords foresaw would be pure1 and that they would serve him with all their hearts1 to them he gave repentance4 #dh ,but for those whose deceit and wickedness he beheld1 and perceived that they would not truly return unto him2 to them he denied any return unto repentance1 lest they should again blaspheme his law with wicked words4 #di ,i said unto him2 ,now1 ,sir1 make known unto me1 what is the place of every one of those1 who have given up their rods1 and what their portion2 that when they may have not kept their seal entire1 but have wasted the seal which they received1 shall hear and believe these thins1 and may acknowledge their evil deeds and repent2 #ej ,and receiving again their seal from you1 may give glory to ,god1 that he was moved with compassion towards them1 and sent you to renew their spirits4 #ea ,hearken1 said he2 they whose rods have been found and rotten1 and as it were touch with the moth2 are the deserters and the betrayers of the church2 #eb ,who with the rest of their crimes1 have also blasphemed the ,lord1 and denied his name when he had called upon them4 ,therefore all these are dead unto ,god and thou seest that none of them have repented1 although they have heard my commands which thou bast delivered unto them4 ,from these men therefore life is far distant4 #ec ,they also who have delivered up their rods dry1 but not rotten1 have not been far from them4 ,for they have been counterfeits1 and brought in evil doctrines1 and have perverted the servants of ,god1 especially those who had sinned2 not suffering them to return unto repentance1 but keeping them back by their false doctrines4 #ed ,these therefore have hope2 and thou seest that many of them have repented1 since the time that thou hast laid my commands before them2 and many more will yet repent4 ,but they1 that shall not repent2 shall lose both repentance and life4 #ee ,but they that have repented1 their place is begun to be within the first walls1 and some of them are even gone into the tower4 ,thou seest therefore1 said he1 that in the repentance of sinners there is life2 but for those who repent not1 death is prepared4 #ef ,hear now concerning those who gave in their rods half dry and full of clefts4 ,those whose rods were only half dry1 are the doubtful2 for they are neither living nor dead4 #eg ,but they who delivered in their rods1 not only half dry but also full of clefts1 are both doubtful and evil speakers2 who detract from those that are absent1 and have never peace among themselves1 and who envy one another4 #eh ,howbeit1 to those also repentance is offered2 for thou seest that some of these have repented4 #ei ,now all those of this kind who have quickly repented1 shall have a place in the tower2 and they who have been more slow in their repentance1 shall dwell within the walls3 but they that shall not repent1 and shall continue on in their wicked doings1 shall die the death4 #fj ,as for those who had their rods green1 but yet cleft2 they are such as were always faithful and good1 but they had some envy and strife among themselves concerning dignity and pre-eminence4 #fa ,now all such as are vain1 and without understanding1 contend with one another about these things4 #fb ,nevertheless1 seeing they are otherwise good1 if when they shall hear these commands they shall amend themselves1 and shall at my persuasion suddenly repent2 they shall at last dwell in the tower1 like those who have truly and worthily repented4 #fc ,but if any one shall again return to his dissension2 he shall be shut out from the tower1 and shall lose his life4 ,for the life of those who keep the commandments of the ,lord1 consists in doing what they are commanded2 not in principality1 or in any other dignity4 #fd ,for by forbearance and humility of mind1 men shall attain unto life2 but by seditions and contempt of the law1 they shall purchase death unto themselves4 #fe ,they who in their rods had half dry and half green1 are those who are engaged in many affairs of the world1 and are not joined to the saints4 ,for which cause half of them liveth1 and half is dead4 #ff ,wherefore many of these since the time that they have heard my commands1 have repented1 and begun to dwell in the tower4 ,but some of them have wholly fallen away2 to these there is no more place for repentance4 #fg ,for by reason of their present interests1 they have blasphemed and denied ,god3 and for this wickedness they have lost life4 ,and of these many are still in doubt1 yet these may return2 and if they shall quickly repent1 they shall have a place in the tower2 but if they shall be more slow1 they shall dwell within the walls2 but if they shall not repent1 they shall die4 #fh ,as for those who had two parts of their rods green1 and the third dry2 they have by manifold ways denied the ,lord4 ,of these many have repented1 and found a place in the tower3 and many have altogether departed from ,god4 ,these have utterly lost life4 #fi ,and some being in a doubtful state1 have raise up dissensions3 these may yet return1 if they shall suddenly repent and not continue in their lusts2 but if they shall continue in their evil-doing they shall die4 #gj ,they who gave in their rods two parts dry1 and the other been1 are those who have indeed been faithful1 but withal rich and full of good things2 and thereupon have desired to be famous among the heathen which are without1 and have thereby fallen into great pride1 and begun to aim at high matters1 and to forsake the truth4 #ga ,nor were they joined to the saints1 but lived with the heathen2 and this life seemed the more pleasant to them4 ,howbeit they have not departed from ,god1 but continued in the faith2 only they have not wrought the works of faith4 #gb ,many therefore of these have repented2 and begun to dwell in the tower4 ,yet others still living among the heathen4 people1 and being lifted up with their vanities1 have utterly fallen away from ,god1 and followed the works and wickedness of the heathen4 ,these kind of men therefore are reckoned among strangers to the ,gospel4 #gc ,others of these began to be doubtful in their minds2 despairing by reason of their wicked doings ever to attain unto salvation ,others being thus made doubtful1 did moreover stir up dissensions4 #gd ,to these therefore1 and to those who by reason of their doings are become doubtful1 there is still hope of return2 but they must repent quickly1 that their place may be in the tower4 ,but they that repent not1 and continue still in their pleasures1 are nigh unto death4 #ge ,as for those who gave in their rods green1 excepting their tops1 which only were dry1 and had clefts2 these were always good1 and faithful1 and upright before ,god3 nevertheless they sinned a little1 by reason of their empty pleasures and trifling thoughts which they had within themselves4 #gf ,wherefore many of them when they heard my words1 repented forthwith1 and began to dwell in the tower4 ,nevertheless some grew doubtful1 and others to their doubtful minds added dissensions4 ,to these therefore there is still hope of return1 because they were always good2 but they shall not hardly be moved4 #gg ,as for those1 lastly1 who gave in their rods dry1 their tops only excepted1 which alone were green2 they are such as have believed indeed in ,god1 but have lived in wickedness2 yet without departing from ,god3 having always willingly borne the name of the ,lord1 and readily received into their houses the servants of ,god4 #gh ,wherefore hearing these things they returned1 and without delay repented1 and lived in all righteousness4 ,and some of them suffered death3 others readily underwent many trials1 being mindful of their evil doings4 #gi ,if ,and when he had ended his explications of all the rods1 he said unto me1 ,go1 and say unto all men that they repent1 and they shall live unto ,god2 because the ,lord being moved with great clemency hath sent me to preach repentance unto all3 #hj ,even unto those who by reason of their evil doings1 deserve not to attain unto salvation4 ,but the ,lord will by patient1 and keep the invitation that was made by his ,son4 #ha ,i said unto him1 sir1 ,i hope that all when they shall hear these things1 will repent4 ,for ,i trust that everyone acknowledging his crimes1 and taking up the fear of the ,lord1 will return unto repentance4 #hb ,he said unto me1 ,whosoever shall repent with all their hearts1 and cleanse themselves from all the evils that ,i have before mentioned1 and not add anything more to their sins1 shall receive from the ,lord cure of their former iniquities1 if they do not make any doubt of these commands1 and shall live unto ,god4 #hc ,but they that shall continue to add to their transgressions1 and still converse with the lusts of the present world1 shall condemn themselves unto death4 ,but do thou walk in these commands1 and whosoever shall ,walk in these1 and exercise them rightly1 shall live unto ,god4 #hd ,and having showed me all these things1 he said2 ,i will show thee the rest in a few days4 ,,similitude ,,ix4 ,the greatest mysteries of the militant and triumphant ,church which is to be built4 ,,after ,i had ,written the ,commands and similitudes of the ,shepherd1 the ,angel of ,repentance came unto me1 and said to me1 ,i will show thee all those things which the ,spirit spake with thee under the figure of the church4 ,for that ,spirit is the ,son of ,god4 #b ,and because thou wert weak in body1 it was not declared unto thee by the angel1 until thou wert strengthened by the ,spirit1 and increased in force1 that thou mightest also see the angel3 #c ,for then indeed the building of the tower was very well and gloriously shown unto thee by the church2 nevertheless thou sawest all things shown unto thee as it were by a virgin4 #d ,but now thou art enlightened by the angel1 and yet by the same ,spirit4 ,but thou must consider all things diligently2 for therefore am ,i sent into thy house by that venerable messenger1 that when thou shalt have seen all things powerfully1 thou mayest not be afraid as before4 #e ,and he led me to the height of a mountain in ,arcadia1 and we sat upon its top4 ,and he showed me a great plain1 and about it twelve mountains in different figures4 #f ,the first was black as soot4 ,the second was smooth1 without herbs4 ,the third was full of thorns and thistles4 ,the fourth had herbs half dried2 of which the upper part was green1 but that next the root was dry2 and some of the herbs1 when the sun grew hot1 were dry4 #g ,the fifth mountain was very rugged2 but yet had green herbs4 ,the sixth mountain was full of clefts1 some lesser1 and some greater2 and in these clefts grew grass1 not flourishing1 but which seemed to be withering4 #h ,the seventh mountain had delightful pasture1 and was wholly fruitful2 and all kinds of cattle1 and of the birds of heaven2 fed upon it2 and the more they fed on it1 the more and better did the grass grow4 #i ,the eighth mountain was full of fountains1 and from those fountains were watered all kinds of the creatures of ,cod4 ,the ninth mountain had no water at all1 but was wholly destitute of it2 and nourished deadly serpents1 very destructive to men4 #aj ,the tenth mountain was full of tall trees1 and altogether shady2 and under the shade of them lay cattle resting and chewing the cud4 #aa ,the eleventh mountain was full of the thickest trees1 and those trees seemed to be loaded with several sorts of fruits2 that whosoever saw them could not choose but desire to eat of their fruit4 #ab ,the twelfth mountain was altogether white1 and of a most pleasant aspect1 and itself gave a most excellent beauty to itself4 #ac ,in the middle of the plain he showed me a huge white rock1 which rose out of the plain1 and the rock was higher than those mountains1 and was square2 so that it seemed capable of supporting the whole world4 #ad ,it looked to me to be old1 yet it had in it a new gate1 which seemed to have been newly hewn out of it4 ,now that gate was bright beyond the sun itself2 insomuch1 that ,i greatly wondered at its light4 #ae ,about the gate stood twelve virgins2 of which four that stood at the corners of the gate1 seemed to me to be the chiefest1 although the rest were also of worth3 and they stood in the four parts of the gate4 #af ,it added also to the grace of those virgins1 that they stood in pairs1 clothed with linen garments1 and decently girded1 their right arms being at liberty1 as if they were about to lift up some burthen2 for so they were adorned1 and were exceeding cheerful and ready4 #ag ,when ,i saw this1 ,i wondered with myself to see such great and noble things4 ,and again ,i admired upon the account of those virgins1 that they were so handsome and delicate2 and stood with such firmness and constancy1 as if they would carry the whole heaven4 #ah ,and as ,i was thinking thus within myself1 the shepherd said unto me2 ,what thickest thou within thyself8 ,why art thou disquieted1 and fillest thyself with care8 #ai ,do not seem to consider1 as if thou wert wise1 what thou doest not understand1 but pray unto the ,lord1 that thou mayest have ability to understand it4 ,what is to come thou canst not understand1 but thou seest that which is before thee4 #bj ,be not therefore disquieted at those things which thou canst not see2 but get the understanding of those which thou seest4 #ba ,forbear to be curious2 and ,i will show thee all things that ,i ought to declare unto thee3 but first consider what yet remains4 #bb ,and when he had said this unto me ,i looked up1 and behold ,i saw six tall and venerable men coming2 their countenances were all alike1 and they called a certain multitude of men2 and they who came at their call were also tall and stout4 #bc ,and those six commanded them to build a certain tower over that gate4 ,and immediately there began to be a great noise of those men running here and there about the gate1 who were come together to build the tower4 #bd ,but those virgins which stood about the gate perceived that the building of the tower was to be hastened by them4 ,and they stretched out their hands1 as if they were to receive somewhat from them to do4 #be ,then those six men commanded1 that they should lift up stones out of a certain deep place1 and prepare them for the building of the tower4 ,and there were lifted up ten white stones1 square1 and not cut round4 #bf ,then those six men called the ten virgins to them1 and commanded them to carry all the stones that were to be put into the building1 and having carried them through the gate to deliver them to those that were about to build the tower4 #bg ,immediately the virgins began all of them together to lift up those stones1 that were before taken out of the deep4 #bh ,and they who also stood about the gate did carry stones in such a manner1 that those stones which seemed to be the strongest were laid at the corners1 and the rest were put into the sides2 #bi ,and thus they carried all the stones1 and bringing them through the gate delivered them to the builders1 as they had been commanded3 who receiving them at their hands1 built with them4 #cj ,but this building was made upon that great rock1 and over the gate2 and by these the whole tower was supported4 ,but the building of the ten stones filled the whole gate1 which began to be made for the foundation of that tower4 #ca ,after those ten stones did five and twenty others rise up out of the deep2 and these were placed in the building of the same tower2 being lifted up by those virgins1 as the others had been before4 #cb ,after these did fire and thirty others rise up2 and these were also in like manner fitted into the same work4 ,then forty other stones were brought up1 and all these were added unto the building of that tower4 #cc ,so there began to be four ranks in the foundation of that tower2 and the stones ceased to rise out of the deep2 and they also which built rested a little4 #cd ,again1 those six men commanded the multitude1 that they should bring stones out of those twelve mountains to the building of the same tower4 #ce ,so they cut out of all the mountains stones of divers colours1 and brought them and gave them to the virgins2 which when they had received they carried them1 and delivered them into the building of the tower4 #cf ,in which when they were built they became white1 and different from what they were before2 for they were all alike1 and did change their former colours4 ,and some were reached up by the men themselves1 which when they came into the building1 continued such is they were put in4 #cg ,these neither became white1 nor different from what they were before2 because they were not carried by the virgins through the gate4 ,wherefore these stones were disagreeable in the building2 which1 when these six men perceived they commanded them to be removed1 and put again in the place from which they were brought4 #ch ,and they said to those who brought these stones2 ,do not ye reach up to us any stones for this building1 but lay them down by the tower1 that these virgins may carry them and reach them to us4 #ci ,for unless they shall be carried by these virgins through this gate1 they cannot change their colours3 therefore do not labour in vain4 #dj ,so the building that day was done2 howbeit the tower was not finished1 for it was afterwards to be built2 therefore now also there was some delay made of it4 #da ,and these six men commanded those that built to depart1 and as it were to rest for some time2 but they ordered those virgins that they should not depart from the tower2 so now they seemed to me to be left for the guarding of it4 #db ,when all were departed1 ,i said unto the shepherd2 ,sir1 why is not the building of the tower finished8 ,because it cannot1 said he1 be finished until its ,lord comes1 and approves of the building2 that if he shall find any stones in it that are not good they may be changed2 for this tower is built according to his will4 #dc ,sir1 said ,i1 ,i would know what the building of this tower signifies2 as also ,i would be informed concerning this rock1 and this gate2 #dd ,and concerning the mountains1 and the virgins1 and the stones that did rise out of the deep1 and were not cut1 but put into the building just as they came forth2 and why the ten stones were first laid in the foundation2 then the twenty-five1 then thirty- five2 then forty8 #de ,also concerning those stones that were put into the building1 and again taken out1 and carried back into their places8 ,fulfil1 ,i pray1 the desire of my soul as to all these things1 and manifest all unto me4 #df ,and he said unto me2 ,if thou shalt not be dull1 thou shall know all1 and shall see all the other things that are about to happen in this1 tower3 and shall understand diligently all these similitudes4 #dg ,and after a few days we came into the same place where we had sat before2 and he said unto me1 ,let us go unto the tower2 for the ,lord of it will come and examine it4 #dh ,so we came thither1 and found none but those virgins there4 ,and he asked them whether the ,lord of that tower was come thither8 ,and they replied1 that he would be there presently to examine the building4 #di ,after a very little while ,i saw a great multitude of men coming1 and in the middle of them a man so tall1 that he surpassed the tower in height4 #ej ,about him were those six1 who before commanded in the building1 and all the rest of those who had built that tower1 and many others of great dignity3 and the virgins that kept the tower ran to meet him1 and kissed him1 and began to walk near unto him4 #ea ,but he examined the building with so much care1 that he handled every stone2 and struck every one with a rod which he held in his hand3 #eb ,of which some being so struck turned black as soot2 others were rough2 some looked as if they had cracks in them2 others seemed maimed2 some neither black nor white2 some looked sharp1 and agreed not with the other stones1 and others were full of spots4 #ec ,these were the several kinds of those stones which were not found proper in the building2 all which the ,lord commanded to be taken out of the tower1 and laid near it1 and other stones to be brought and put in their places4 #ed ,and they that built1 asked him from which of the mountains he would have stones brought to put in the place of those that were laid aside4 ,but he forbad them to bring any from the mountains1 and commanded that they should take them out of a certain field that was near4 #ee ,so they digged in the field1 and found many bright square stones1 and some also that were round4 ,howbeit1 all that were found in that field were taken away1 and carried through the gate by those virgins2 and those of them that were square were fitted and put into the places of those that were pulled out4 #ef ,but the round ones were not put into the building1 because they were hard1 and it would have required too much time to cut them but they were placed about the tower1 as if they should hereafter be cut square1 and put into the building2 for they were very white4 #eg ,when he who was chief in dignity1 and lord of the whole tower saw this1 he called to him the shepherd that was with me1 and gave him the stones that were rejected and laid about the tower1 and said unto him2 cleanse these stones with all care1 and fit them into the building of the tower1 that they may agree with the rest2 but those that will not suit with the rest1 cast away afar off from the tower4 #eh ,when he had thus commanded him1 he departed1 with all those that came with him to the tower but those virgins still stood about the tower to keep it4 #ei ,and ,i said unto that shepherd2 ,how can these stones1 seeing they have been rejected1 return into the building of this tower8 ,he replied2 ,i will cut off the greatest part from these stones1 and will add them to the building1 and they will agree with the rest4 #fj ,and ,i said1 ,sir1 how will they be able to fill the same place1 when they shall be so much cut away8 ,he answered2 ,they that shall be found too little shall be put into the middle of the building1 and the greater shall be placed without1 and keep them in4 #fa ,when he had said thus unto me1 he added2 ,let us go1 and after three days we will return1 and ,i will put these stones1 being cleansed1 into the tower4 #fb ,for all these that are about the tower must be cleansed1 lest the master of the house chance to come upon the sudden1 and find those which are about the tower unclean2 and be so exasperated that these stones should never be put into the building of this tower1 and ,i shall be looked upon to have been unmindful of my master's commands4 #fc ,when therefore we came after three days to the tower1 he said unto me2 ,let us examine all these stones1 and let us see which of them may go into the building4 ,i answered1 ,sir1 let us see4 #fd ,and first of all we began to consider those which had been black2 for they were found just such as they were when they were pulled out of the tower3 wherefore he commanded them to be removed from the tower and put by themselves4 #fe ,then he examined those which had been rough2 and commanded many of those to be cut round1 and to be fitted by the virgins into the building of the tower2 so they took them1 and fitted them into the middle of the building and he commanded the rest to be laid by with the black ones1 for they also were become black4 #ff ,next he considered those which were full of cracks1 and many of those also he ordered to be pared away1 and so to be added to the rest of the building1 by the came virgins4 #fg ,these were placed without because they were found entire2 but the residue through the multitude of their cracks could not be reformed1 and therefore were cast away from the building of the tower4 #fh ,then he considered those that had been maimed2 many of these had cracks1 and were become black2 others had large clefts2 these he commanded to be placed with those that were reected2 #fi ,but the rest being cleansed and reformed1 he commanded to be put into the building4 ,these therefore those virgins took up1 and fitted into the middle of the building1 because they were but weak4 #gj ,after these he examined those which were found half white and half black1 and many of those which were now black2 these also he ordered to be laid among those that were cast away4 #ga ,the rest were found altogether white2 those were taken up by the virgins1 and fitted into the same tower3 and they were put in the outside1 because they were found entire2 that so they might keep in those that were placed in the middle1 for nothing was cut off from them4 #gb ,next he looked upon those which had been hard and sharp2 but few of these were made use of1 because they could not be cut1 for they were found very hard3 but the rest were formed1 and fitted by the virgins into the middle of the building1 because they were more weak4 #gc ,then he considered those which had spots2 of these a few were found black1 and they were carried to their fellows4 ,the rest were white and entire2 and they were fitted by the virgins into the building1 and placed in the outside1 by reason of their strength4 #gd ,after this he came to consider those stones which were white and round3 and he said unto me1 ,what shall we do with these stones8 ,i answered1 ,sir1 ,i cannot tell4 #ge ,he replied1 ,canst thou think of nothing then for these8 ,i answered1 ,sir1 ,i understand not this art2 neither am ,i a stone-cutter1 nor can ,i tell anything4 #gf ,and he said1 seest thou not that they are very round8 ,now to make them square1 ,i must cut off a great deal from them2 howbeit1 it is necessary that some of these should go into the building of the tower4 #gg ,i answered2 ,if it be necessary1 why do you perplex yourself1 and not rather choose1 if you have any choice among them1 and fit them into the building4 #gh ,upon this he chose out the largest and brightest1 and squared them2 which1 when he had done the virgins took them up1 and fitted them into the building4 #gi ,and the rest that remained were carried back into the same field from which they were taken2 howbeit1 they were not cast away2 because1 said he1 there is yet a little wanting to this tower1 which is to be built2 and perhaps the ,lord will have these stones fitted into this building1 because they are exceeding white4 #hj ,then there were called twelve very stately women1 clothed with a black garment1 girded1 and their shoulders free1 and their hair loose4 ,these seemed to me to be country women4 #ha ,and the shepherd commanded them to take up those stones which were cast out of the building1 and carry them back to the mountains out of which they were taken4 #hb ,and they took them all up joyfully1 and carried them back to their places from whence they had been taken4 #hc ,when not one stone remained about the tower1 he said unto me1 ,let us go about this tower1 and see whether anything be wanting to it4 #hd ,we began therefore to go round about it2 and when he saw that it was handsomely built1 he began to be very glad2 for it was so beautifully framed1 that any one that had seen it must have been in love with the building4 #he ,for it seemed to be all but one stone1 nor did a joint any where appear2 but it looked as if it had all been cut out of one rock4 #hf ,and when ,i diligently considered what a tower it was1 ,i was extremely pleased3 and he said unto me1 ,bring hither some lime and little shells1 that ,i may fill up the spaces of those stones that were taken out of the building1 and put in again2 for all things about the tower must be made even4 #hg ,and ,i did as he commanded me1 and brought them unto him and he said unto me1 ,be ready to help me1 and this work will quickly be finished4 #hh ,he therefore filled up the spaces of those stones1 and commanded the place about the tower to be cleansed4 #hi ,then those virgins took besoms1 and cleansed all the place around1 and took away all the rubbish1 and threw water on2 which being done1 the palace became delightful1 and the tower beauteous4 #ij ,then he said unto me1 ,all is now clean if the ,lord should come to finish the tower1 he will find nothing whereby to complain of us4 #ia ,when he had said this he would have departed4 ,but ,i laid hold on his bag1 and began to entreat him for the ,lord's sake1 that he would explain to me all things that he had shown me4 #ib ,he said unto me1 ,i have at present a little business2 but ,i will suddenly explain all things unto thee4 ,tarry here for me till ,i come4 #ic ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 what shall ,i do here alone8 ,he answered1 ,thou art not alone1 seeing all these virgins are with thee4 #id ,i said1 ,sir1 deliver me then unto them4 ,then he called them and said unto them1 ,i commend this man unto you until ,i shall come2 #ie ,so ,i remained with those virgins3 now they were cheerful and courteous unto me2 especially the four1 which seemed to be the chieftest among them4 #if ,then those virgins said unto me1 that shepherd will not return hither to-day4 ,i said unto them1 ,what then shall ,i do8 ,they answered1 ,tarry for him till the evening1 if perhaps he may come and speak with thee2 but if not1 yet thou shalt continue with us till he does come4 #ig ,i said unto them1 ,i will tarry for him till evening2 but if he comes not by that time1 ,i will go home1 and return hither again the next morning4 #ih ,they answered me1 ,as thou art delivered unto us1 thou mayest not depart from us4 ,i said1 ,where shall ,i tarry8 #ii ,they replied1 ,thou shalt sleep with us as a brother1 not as a husband2 for thou art our brother1 and we are ready from henceforth to dwell with thee2 for thou art very dear to as4 #ajj ,howbeit ,i was ashamed to continue with them4 ,but she that seemed to be the chieftest amongst them1 embraced me1 and began to kiss me4 ,and the rest when they saw that ,i was kissed by her1 began also to kiss me as a brother2 and led me about the tower1 and played with me4 #aja ,some of them also sung psalms1 others made up the chorus with them4 ,but ,i walked about the tower with them1 rejoicing silently1 and seeming to myself to be grown young again4 #ajb ,when the evening came on1 ,i would forthwith have gone home1 but they withheld me1 and suffered me not to depart4 ,wherefore ,i continued with them that night near the same tower4 #ajc ,so they spread their linen garments upon the ground2 and placed me in the middle1 nor did they anything else1 only they prayed4 #ajd ,i also prayed with them without ceasing1 nor less than they4 ,who1 when they saw me pray in that manner1 rejoiced greatly3 and ,i continued there with their till the next day4 #aje ,and when we had worshipped ,god1 then the shepherd came and said unto them3 ,you have done no injury to this man8 ,they answered1 ,ask him4 ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 ,i have received a great deal of satisfaction in that ,i have remained with them4 #ajf ,and he said unto me1 ,how didst thou sup8 ,i answered1 ,sir1 ,i feasted the whole night upon the words of the ,lord4 ,they received thee well then1 said he8 ,i said1 ,sir1 very well4 #ajg ,he answered1 ,wilt thou now learn what thou didst desire8 ,i replied1 ,sir1 ,i will3 and first ,i pray thee that thou shouldest show me all things in the order that ,i asked them4 #ajh ,he answered1 ,i will do all as thou wouldst have me1 nor will ,i hide any thing from thee4 #aji ,first of all1 ,sir1 said ,i1 tell me1 what this rock and this gate denote8 ,hearken1 said he2 this rock1 and this gate1 are the ,son of ,god4 ,i replied1 ,sir1 how can that be2 seeing the rock is old1 but the gate new8 #aaj ,hear1 said he1 ,o foolish man6 and understand4 ,the ,son of ,god is indeed more ancient than any creature2 insomuch that he was in council with his ,father at the creation oft all things4 #aaa ,but the gate is therefore new1 because he appeared in the last days in the fullness of time2 that they who shall attain unto salvation1 may by it enter into the kingdom of ,god4 #aab ,you have seen1 said he1 those stones which were carried through the gate1 how they were placed in the building of the tower2 but that those which were not carried through the gate1 were sent away into their own places8 #aac ,i answered1 sir1 ,i saw it4 ,thus1 said he1 no man shall enter into the kingdom of ,god1 but he who shall take upon him the name of the ,son of ,god4 #aad ,for if you would enter into any city1 and that city should he encompassed with a wall1 and had only one gate1 could you enter into that city except by that gate8 #aae ,i answered1 ,sir1 how could ,i do otherwise8 ,as therefore1 said he1 there would be no other way of entering into that city but by its gate1 so neither can any one enter into the kingdom of ,god1 but only by the name of his ,son1 who is most dear unto him4 #aaf ,and he said unto me1 ,didst thou see the multitude of those that built that tower8 ,sir1 said ,i1 ,i saw it4 ,he answered1 ,all those are the angels1 venerable in their dignity1 #aag ,with those is the ,lord encompassed as with a wall3 but the gate is the ,son of ,god1 who is the only way of coming unto ,god4 ,for no man shall go to ,god1 but by his ,son4 #aah ,thou sawest also1 said he1 the six men1 and in the middle of them that venerable great man1 who walked about the tower1 and rejected the stones out of the tower8 #aai ,sir1 said ,i1 ,i saw them4 ,he answered1 that tall man was the ,son of ,god2 and those six were his angels of most eminent dignity1 which stand about him on the right hand and on the left4 #abj ,of these excellent angels none comes in unto ,god without him4 ,he added1 ,whosoever there4 fore shall not take upon him his name1 he shall nor enter into the kingdom of ,god4 #aba ,then ,i said1 ,what is this tower8 ,this1 said he1 is the church4 ,and what1 ,sir1 are these virgins8 ,he said unto me1 ,these are the holy spirits1 for no man can enter into the kingdom of ,god1 except these clothe him with their garment1 #abb ,for it will avail thee nothing to take up the name of the ,son of ,god1 unless thou shalt also receive their garment from them4 ,for these virgins are the powers of the ,son of ,god4 ,so shall a man in vain bear his name1 unless he shall be also endued with his powers4 #abc ,and he said unto me1 sawest thou those stones that were cast away8 ,they bore indeed the name1 but put not on their garment4 ,i said1 ,sir1 what is their garment8 ,their very names1 said he1 are their garment4 #abd ,therefore whosoever beareth the name of the ,son of ,god1 ought to bear their names also2 for the ,son of ,god also himself beareth their names4 #abe ,as for those stones1 continued he1 which being delivered by their hands1 thou sawest remain in the building1 they were clothed with their power2 for which cause thou seest the whole tower of the same colour with the rock1 and made as it were of one stone4 #abf ,so also those who have believed in ,god by his ,son1 have put on his spirit4 ,behold there shall be one spirit1 and one body1 and one colour of their garments2 and all they shall attain this1 who shall bear the names of these virgins4 #abg ,and ,i said1 ,sir1 why then were those stones cast away which were rejected1 seeing they also were carried through the gate1 and delivered by the hands of these virgins into the building of this tower8 #abh ,seeing1 said he thou takest care to inquire diligently into all things1 hear also concerning those stones which were rejected4 ,all these received the name of the ,son of ,god1 and with that the power of these virgins4 #abi ,having therefore received these spirits1 they were perfected1 and brought into the number of the servants of ,god2 and they began to be one body1 and to have one garment1 for they were endued with the same righteousness1 which they alike exercised4 #acj ,but after that they beheld those women which thou sawest clothed with a black garment1 with their shoulders at liberty and their hair loose2 they fixed their desires upon them1 being tempted with their beauty2 and were clothed with their power1 and cast off the clothing of the virgins3 #aca ,therefore were they cast off from the house of ,god1 and delivered to those women4 ,but they that were not corrupted with their beauty1 remained in the house of ,god4 ,this1 said he1 is the signification of those stones which were rejected4 #acb ,and ,i said1 sir1 what if any of these men shall repent1 and cast away their desire of those women1 and be converted1 and return to these virgins1 and put on again their virtue2 shall they not enter into the house of ,god8 #acc ,they shall enter1 said he1 if they shall lay aside all the works of those women1 and shall resume the power of these virgins1 and shall walk in their works4 #acd ,and for this cause there is a stop in the building1 that if they shall repent1 they may be added to the building of this tower2 but if they shall not repent1 that others may be built in their places1 and so they may be utterly cast away4 #ace ,for all these things ,i gave thanks unto the ,lord1 that being moved with mercy towards all those upon whom his name is carried1 he sent to us the angel of repentance to preside over us who have sinned against him2 and that he has refreshed our spirits which were almost gone1 and who had no hope of salvation1 but are now refreshed to the renewal of life4 #acf ,then ,i said1 ,show me now sir1 why this tower is not built upon the ground1 but upon a rock1 and upon the gate8 ,he replied1 ,thou art foolish1 and without understanding1 therefore thou asketh this4 #acg ,and ,i said1 sir1 ,i must needs ask all things of you because ,i understand nothing at all4 ,for all your answers are great and excellent2 and which a man can hardly understand4 #ach ,hear1 said he3 ,the name of the ,son of ,god is great and without bounds1 and the whole world is supported by it4 ,if therefore1 said ,i1 every creature of ,god be sustained by his ,son1 why should he not support those also who have been invited by him1 and who carry his name1 and walk in his commandments8 #aci ,seest thou not1 said he1 that he doth support them1 who with all their heart1 bear his name8 ,he therefore is their foundation1 and gladly supports those who do not deny his name1 but willingly bear it4 #adj ,and ,i said3 ,sir1 tell me the names of these virgins2 and of those women that were clothed with the black garment4 #ada ,hear1 said he1 the names of those virgins which are the more powerful1 and stand at the corners of the gate4 ,these are their names3 #adb ,the first is called ,faith2 the second ,continence2 the third ,power2 the fourth ,patience2 the rest which stand beneath these are1 ,simplicity1 ,innocence1 ,chastity1 ,cheerfulness1 ,truth1 ,understanding1 ,concord1 ,charity4 #adc ,whosoever therefore bear these names1 and the name of the ,son of ,god1 shall enter into the kingdom of ,god4 #add ,hear now1 said he1 the names of those women1 which were clothed with the black garment4 ,of these1 four are the principal3 the first is ,perfidiousness2 the second1 ,incontinence2 the third1 ,infidelity2 the fourth1 ,pleasure4 #ade ,and the rest which follow are called thus1 ,sadness1 ,malice1 ,lust1 ,anger1 ,lying1 ,foolishness1 ,pride1 and ,hatred4 ,the servant of ,god1 which carries these spirits1 shall see indeed the kingdom of ,god1 but he shall not enter into it4 #adf ,but1 sir1 what are those stones which were taken out of the deep and fitted into the building8 ,the ten1 said he1 which were placed at the foundation1 are the first age2 the following five-and- twenty1 are the second1 of righteous men4 #adg ,the next thirty-five1 are the prophets and ministers of the ,lord4 ,and the forty1 are the ,apostles and doctors of the preaching of the ,son of ,god4 #adh ,and ,i said1 sir1 why did the virgins put even those stones into the building after they were carried through the gate8 ,and he said1 ,because these first carried those spirits1 and they departed not one from the other1 neither the men from the spirits1 nor the spirits from the men3 #adi ,but the spirits were joined to those men even to the day of their death2 who if they had not had these spirits with them1 they could not have been useful to the building of this tower4 #aej ,and ,i said1 sir1 show me this farther4 ,he answered1 ,what dost then ask8 ,why did these stones come out of the deep1 and were placed into the building of this tower1 seeing that they long ago carried those holy spirits8 #aea ,it was necessary1 said he1 for them to ascend by water1 that they might be at rest4 ,for they could not otherwise enter into the kingdom of ,god1 but by laying aside the mortality of their former life4 #aeb ,they therefore being dead1 were nevertheless sealed with the seal of the ,son of ,god1 and so entered into the kingdom of ,god4 #aec ,for before a man receives the name of the ,son of ,god1 he is ordained unto death2 but when he receives that seal1 he is freed from death1 and assigned unto life4 #aed ,now that seal is the water of baptism1 into which men go down under the obligation unto death1 but come up appointed unto life4 #aee ,wherefore to those also was this seal preached1 and they made use of it1 that they might enter into the kingdom of ,god4 #aef ,and ,i said1 ,why then1 sir1 did these forty stones also ascend with them out of the deep1 having already received that seal8 #aeg ,he answered1 ,because these ,apostles and teachers1 who preached the name of the ,son of ,god1 dying after they had received his faith and power1 preached to them who were dead before3 and they gave this seal to them4 #aeh ,they went down therefore into the water with them1 and again came up4 ,but these went down whilst they were alive1 and came up again alive3 whereas those who were before dead1 went down dead1 but came up alive2 #aei ,through these therefore they received life1 and knew the ,son of ,god3 for which cause they came up with them1 and were fit to come into the building of the tower2 and were not cut1 but put in entire2 because they died in righteousness1 and in great purity2 only this seal was wanting to them4 #afj ,thus you have the explication of these things4 #afa ,i answered3 ,sir1 tell me now what concerns those mountains2 why are they so different1 some of one form1 and some of another8 #afb ,hear1 said he2 ,these twelve mountains which thou seest1 are twelve nations1 which make up the whole world4 ,wherefore the ,son of ,god is preached to them1 by those whom he sent unto them4 #afc ,but why1 said ,i1 are they different1 and every one of a figure8 ,he replied1 ,hearken4 ,those twelve nations which possess the whole world1 are twelve people4 #afd ,and as thou hast beheld these mountains different1 so are they4 ,i will therefore open to thee the meaning and actions of every mountain4 #afe ,but first1 sir1 said ,i1 show me this2 ,seeing these mountains are so different1 how have they agreed in the building of this tower2 and been brought to one colour2 and are no less bright than those that came out of the deep8 #aff ,because1 replied he1 all the nations which are under heaven1 have heard and believed in the same one name of the ,son of ,god by whom they are called4 #afg ,wherefore having received his seal1 they have all been made partakers of the same understanding and knowledge2 and their faith and charity have been the same2 and they have carried the spirits of these virgins together with his name4 #afh ,and therefore the building of this tower appeared to be of the same colour1 and did shine like the brightness of the sun4 #afi ,but after that they had thus agreed in one mind1 there began to be one body of them all2 howbeit some of them polluted themselves1 and were cast off from those of the righteous1 and again returned to their former state1 and became even worse than they were before4 #agj ,how1 air1 said ,i1 were they worse who knew the ,lord8 ,he answered3 ,if he who knows not the ,lord liveth wickedly1 the punishment of his wickedness attends him2 #aga ,but he who has known the ,lord1 ought to abstain altogether from all wickedness1 and more and more to be the servant of righteousness4 #agb ,and does not he then seem to thee to sin more who ought to follow goodness1 if he shall prefer the part of sin2 than he who offends without knowing the power of ,god8 #agc ,wherefore these are indeed ordained unto death2 but they who have known the ,lord1 and have seen his wonderful works1 if they shall live wickedly1 they shall be doubly punished1 and shall die for ever4 #agd ,as therefore thou hast seen that after the stones were cast out of the tower1 which had been rejected1 they were delivered to wicked and cruel spirits2 and thou beheldest the tower so cleansed1 as if it had all been made of one stone3 #age ,so the church of ,god1 when it shall be purified3 7the wicked and counterfeits1 the mischievous and doubtful1 and all that have behaved themselves wickedly in it1 and committed divers kinds of sin1 being cast out7 shall become one body1 and there shall be one understanding1 one opinion1 one faith1 and the same charity4 #agf ,and then shall the ,son of ,god rejoice among them1 and shall receive his people with a pure will4 #agg ,and ,i said2 ,sir1 all these things are great and honourable2 but now show unto me the effect and force of every mountain3 that every soul which trusteth in the ,lord1 when it shall hear these things may honour his great1 and wonderful1 and holy name4 #agh ,hear1 said he1 the variety of these mountains1 that is1 of the twelve nations4 #agi ,they who have believed of the first mountain1 which is black1 are those who have revolted from the faith1 and spoken wicked things against the ,lord2 and betrayed the servants of ,god4 #ahj ,these are condemned to death2 there is no repentance for them3 and therefore they are black1 because their kind is wicked4 #aha ,of the second mountain which was smooth1 are the hypocrites1 who have believed1 and the teachers of naughtiness3 and these are next to the foregoing1 which have not in them the fruit of righteousness4 #ahb ,for as their mountain is barren and without fruit so also such kind of men have indeed the name of ,christians1 but are empty of faith2 nor is there any fruit of the truth in them4 #ahc ,nevertheless there is room left to them of repentance1 if they shall speedily pursue it2 but if they shall delay1 they also shall be partakers of death with the foregoing kind4 #ahd ,i said1 air1 why is there room left to those for repentance1 and not to the foregoing kind1 seeing their sins are well nigh the same8 #ahe ,there is therefore1 said he1 to these a return unto life by repentance1 because they have not blasphemed against their ,lord1 nor betrayed the servants of ,god3 but by their desire of gain have deceived men1 leading them according to the lusts of sinners2 wherefore they shall suffer for this thing4 #ahf ,howbeit there is still left them room for repentance1 because they have not spoken any thing wickedly against the ,lord4 #ahg ,they who are of the third mountain which had thorns and brambles1 are those who believed1 but were some of them rich2 others taken up with many affairs3 the brambles are their riches2 the thorns1 those affairs in which they were engaged4 #ahh ,now they who are entangled in much business1 and in diversity of affairs1 join not themselves to the servants of ,god1 but wander1 being called away by those affairs with which they are choked4 #ahi ,and so they which are rich1 with difficulty yield themselves to the conversation of the servants of ,god2 fearing lest any thing should be asked of them4 ,these therefore shall hardly enter the kingdom of ,god4 #aij ,for as men walk with difficulty bare-foot over thorns1 even so these kind of men shall scarcely enter into the kingdom of ,god4 #aia ,nevertheless there is afforded to all these a return unto repentance1 if they shall quickly return to it2 because in their for-mer days they having neglected to work1 in the time that is to come they may do some good4 #aib ,if therefore having repented they shall do the works of righteousness1 they shall live2 but if they shall continue in their evil courses1 they shall be delivered to those women who will take away their lives4 #aic ,as for the fourth mountain1 which had many herbs1 the upper part of which is green1 but the roots dry1 and some of which being touched with the heat of the sun1 are withered2 #aid ,it denotes the doubtful1 who have believed1 and some others who carry the ,lord on their tongues1 but have him not in their hearts3 therefore their grass is dry1 and without root2 because they live only in words1 but their works are dead4 #aie ,these therefore are neither dead nor living1 and withal are doubtful4 ,for the doubtful are neither green nor dry2 that is neither dead nor alive4 #aif ,for as the herbs dry away at the sight of the sun1 so the doubtful1 as soon as they hear of persecution1 and fear inconveniencies1 return to their idols1 and again serve them1 and are ashamed to bear the name of their ,lord4 #aig ,this kind of men then is neither dead nor alive2 nevertheless these also may live1 if they shall presently repent2 but if not1 they shall be delivered to those women1 who shall take away their lives4 #aih ,as concerning the fifth mountain that is craggy1 and yet has green grass2 they are of this kind who have believed1 and are faithful indeed1 but believe with difficulty1 and are bold and self- conceited2 and would be thought to know all things1 but really know nothing4 #aii ,wherefore1 by reason of this confidence1 knowledge is departed from them2 and a rash presumption is entered into them4 #bjj ,but they carry themselves high1 and as prudent men2 and though they are fools1 yet would seem to be teachers4 #bja ,now by reason of this folly many of them whilst they magnify themselves1 are become vain and empty4 ,for boldness and vain confidence is a very evil spirit4 #bjb ,wherefore many of these are cast away2 but others acknowledging their error1 have repented1 and submitted themselves to those who are knowing4 #bjc ,and to all the rest of this kind1 there is repentance allowed2 forasmuch as they were not so much wicked as foolish1 and void of understanding4 #bjd ,if these therefore shall repent1 they shall live unto ,god2 but if not1 they shall dwell with those women1 who shall exercise their wickedness upon them4 #bje ,for what concerns the sixth mountain having greater and lesser clefts1 they are such as have believed2 but those in which were lesser clefts are they who have had controversies among themselves2 and by reason of their quarrels languish in the faith3 #bjf ,nevertheless many of these have repented1 and so will the rest when they shall hear my commands2 for their controversies are but small1 and they will easily return unto repentance4 #bjg ,but those who have the greater clefts1 will be as stiff stones1 mindful of grudges and offences1 and full of anger among themselves4 ,these therefore are cast from the tower1 and refused to be put into its building2 for this kind of men shall hardly live4 #bjh ,our ,god and ,lord1 who ruleth over all things1 and has power over all his creatures1 will not remember our offences1 but is easily appeased by those who confess their sins3 but man being languid1 mortal1 infirm1 and full of sins1 perseveres in his anger against man2 as if it were in his power to save or destroy him4 #bji ,but ,i1 as the angel who am set over your repentance1 admonish you1 that whosoever among you has any such purpose he should lay it aside1 and return unto repentance2 and the ,lord will heal your former sins1 if you shall purge yourself from this evil spirit2 but if you shall not do it1 ye shall be delivered to him unto death4 #baj ,as for the seventh mountain in which the grass was green and flourishing1 and the whole mountain faithful2 and all kind of cattle fed upon the grass of it1 and the more the grass was eaten1 so much the more it flourished2 #baa ,they are such as believed1 and were always good and upright2 and without any differences among themselves1 but still rejoiced in the servants of ,god1 having put on the spirit of these virgins2 and been always forward to show mercy to all men1 readily giving to all men of their labours without upbraiding1 and without deliberation4 #bab ,wherefore the ,lord seeing their simplicity and innocence1 has increased them in the works of their hands1 and given them grace in all their works4 #bac ,but ,i1 who am the angel appointed over your repentance1 exhort you1 that as many as are of this kind would continue in the same purpose1 that your seed may not be rooted out for ever4 #bad ,for the ,lord hath tried you1 and written you into our number2 and all your seed shall dwell with the ,son of ,god2 for ye are all of his spirit4 #bae ,as concerning the eighth mountain in which were a great many springs1 by which every kind of all the creatures of ,god was watered2 they are such as have believed the ,apostles which the ,lord sent into all the world to preach2 #baf ,and some of them being teachers have preached and taught purely and sincerely1 and have not in the least yielded to any evil1 desires1 but have constantly walked in righteousness and truth4 #bag ,these therefore have their conversations among the angels4 #bah ,again2 as for what concerns the ninth mountain which is a desert1 and full of serpents2 they are such as have believed1 but had many stains3 #bai ,these are such ministers as discharge their ministry amiss2 ravishing away the goods of the widows and fatherless2 and serve themselves1 not others1 out of those things which they have received4 #bbj ,these1 if they continue in this covetousness1 have delivered themselves unto death1 nor shall there be any hope of life for them4 ,but if they shall be converted1 and shall discharge their ministry sincerely1 they may live4 #bba ,as for those which were found rough1 they are such as have denied the name of the ,lord1 and not returned again to the ,lord1 but have become savage and wild2 not applying themelves to the servants of ,god2 but being separated from them1 have for a little carelessness lost their lives4 #bbb ,for as a vine that is forsaken in a hedge1 and never dressed1 perishes and is choked by the weeds1 and in time becomes wild1 and ceases to be useful to its lord2 so this kind of men despairing of themselves1 and being soured1 have begun to be unprofitable to their ,lord4 #bbc ,howbeit1 to these there is1 after all1 repentance allowed1 if they shall not be found from their hearts to have denied ,christ2 but if any of these shall be found to have denied him from his heart1 ,i cannot tell whether such a one can attain unto life4 #bbd ,i say therefore that if any one hath denied1 he should in these days return unto repentance2 for it cannot be that anyone who now denies the ,lord1 can afterwards attain unto salvation nevertheless repentance is promised unto them who have formerly denied4 #bbe ,but he who will repent must hasten on his repentance1 before the building of this tower is finished2 otherwise1 he shall be delivered by those women unto death4 #bbf ,but they that are maimed1 are the deceitful2 and those who mix with one another1 are the serpents that you saw mingled in that mountain4 #bbg ,for as the poison of serpents is deadly unto men1 so the words of such persons infect and destroy men4 ,they are therefore maimed in their faith1 by reason of that kind of life which they lead4 #bbh ,howbeit some of them1 having repented1 have been saved2 and so shall others of the same kind be also saved1 if they shall repent2 but if not1 they shall die by those women who power and force posses1 #bbi ,for what concerns the tenth mountain1 in which were the trees covering the cattle1 they are such as have believed2 and some of them have been bishops1 that is1 governors of the churches4 #bcj ,others1 are such stones as have not feignedly1 but with a cheerful mind entertained the servants of ,god4 #bca ,then1 such as have been set over inferior ministries1 and have protected the poor and the widows2 and have always kept a chaste conversation3 therefore they also are protected by the ,lord4 #bcb ,whosoever shall do on this wise1 are honoured with the ,lord2 and their place is among the angels1 if they shall continue to obey the ,lord even unto the end4 #bcc ,as to the eleventh mountain in which were trees loaded with several sorts of fruit2 they are such as have believed1 and suffered death1 for the name of the ,lord2 and have endured with a heavy mind1 and have given up their lives with all their hearts4 #bcd ,and ,i said1 ,why then1 sir1 have all these fruit indeed1 but yet some fairer than others8 #bce ,hearken1 said he3 ,whosoever have suffered for the name of the ,lord are esteemed honourable by the ,lord2 and all their offences are blotted out1 because they have suffered death for the name of the ,son of ,god4 #bcf ,hear now1 why their fruits are different1 and some of them excel others4 ,they who were brought before magistrates1 and being asked1 denied not the ,lord1 but suffered with a ready mind2 these are more honourable with the ,lord4 ,the fruits therefore that are the most fair are these4 #bcg ,but they who were fearful and doubtful1 and have deliberated with themselves whether they should confess or deny ,christ1 and yet have suffered2 their fruits are smaller1 because that this thought came into their hearts4 #bch ,for it is a wicked and evil thought for a servant to deliberate whether he should deny his master3 ,take heed therefore ye who have such thoughts1 that this mind ,pontinrie not in you1 and ye die unto ,god4 #bci ,but ye who suffer death for his name sake1 ought to honour the ,lord1 that he has esteemed you worthy to bear his name2 and that you should be delivered from all your sins4 #bdj ,and why therefore do you not rather esteem yourselves happy8 ,ye think verily that if any one among you suffer1 he performs a great work6 ,yet the ,lord giveth you life1 and ye understand it not4 ,for your offences did oppress you2 and if you had not suffered for his name sake1 ye would now be dead unto the ,lord4 #bda ,wherefore ,i speak this unto you who deliberate whether ye should confess or deny him4 ,confess that ye have the ,lord for your ,god1 lest at any time denying him1 ye be delivered up into bonds4 #bdb ,for if all nations punish their servants which deny their masters2 what think you that the ,lord will do unto you1 who has the power of all things8 #bdc ,remove therefore out of your hearts these doubts1 that ye may live for ever unto ,god4 #bdd ,as for the twelfth mountain1 which was white1 they are such as have believed like sincere children1 into whose thoughts there never came any malice1 nor have they ever known what sin was1 but have always continued in their integrity4 #bde ,wherefore this kind of men shall without all doubt inherit the kingdom of ,god2 because they have never in any thing defiled the commandments of ,god1 but have continued with sincerity in the same condition all the days of their lives4 #bdf ,whosoever therefore1 said he1 shall continue as children without malice2 shall be more honourable than all those of whom ,i have yet spoken3 for all such children are honoured by the ,lord1 and esteemed the first of all4 #bdg ,happy therefore are ye who shall remove all malice from you1 and put on innocence2 be4 cause ye shall first see the ,lord4 #bdh ,and after he had thus ended his explication of all the mountains1 ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 show me now also what concerns the stones that were brought out of the plain1 and put into the tower in the room of those that were rejected4 #bdi ,as also concerning those round stones which were added into the building of the tower2 and also of those who still continued round4 #bej ,hear now1 says he1 concerning those stones which were brought out of the plain into the building of the tower1 and placed in the room of those that were rejected3 they are the roots of that white mountain4 #bea ,wherefore because those who have believed of that mountain1 were very innocent2 the lord of this tower commanded that they which were of the roots of this mountain should be placed into the building4 #beb ,for he knew that if they were put into1 this building they would continue bright2 nor would any of them any more be made black4 #bec ,but if he had added after this manner1 from the rest of the mountains1 he would almost have needed again to visit the tower1 and to cleanse it4 #bed ,now all these white stones are the young men who have believed1 or shall believe2 for they are all of the same kind4 ,happy is this kind1 because it is innocent4 #bee ,hear now also concerning those round and bright stones2 all these are of this white mountain4 ,but they are therefore found round1 because their riches have a little darkened them from the truth1 and dazzled their eyes4 #bef ,howbeit they have never departed from the ,lord1 nor has any wicked word proceeded out of their mouths2 but all righteousness1 and virtue1 and truth4 #beg ,when therefore the ,lord saw their minds1 and that they might adorn the truth2 he commanded that they should continue good1 and that their riches should be pared away3 #beh ,for he would not have them taken wholly away1 to the end they might do some good with that which was left1 and live unto ,god2 because they also are of a good kind4 #bei ,therefore was there little cut off from them1 and so they were put into the building of this tower4 #bfj ,as for the rest which continued still round1 and were not found fit for the building of this tower1 because they have not yet received the seal2 they were carried back to their place1 be4 cause they were found very round4 #bfa ,but this present world must be cut away from them1 and the vanities of their riches2 and then they will be fit for the kingdom of ,god4 ,for they must enter into the kingdom of ,god1 because ,god has blessed this innocent kind4 #bfb ,of this kind therefore none shall fall away3 for though any of them being tempted by the devil should offend1 he shall soon return to his ,lord ,god4 #bfc ,i the angel of repentance esteem you happy1 whosoever are innocent as little children1 because your portion is good and honourable with the ,lord4 #bfd ,and ,i say unto all you who have received this seal2 keep simplicity1 and remember not the offences which are committed against you1 nor continue in malice1 or in bitterness1 through the memory of offences4 #bfe ,but become one spirit1 and provide remedies for these evil rents1 and remove them from you2 that the lord of the sheep may rejoice at it2 for he will rejoice1 if he shall find all whole4 #bff ,but if any of these sheep shall be found scattered away1 ,woe shall be to the shepherds2 and if the shepherds themselves shall be scattered2 what will they answer to the lord of the sheep-fold8 ,will they say that they were troubled by the sheep8 ,but they shall not be believed4 #bfg ,for it is an incredible thing that the shepherd should suffer by his flock2 and he shall be the more punished for his life4 #bfh ,now ,i am the shepherd2 and especially must give an account of you4 #bfi ,wherefore take care of yourselves whilst the tower is1 yet building4 ,the ,lord dwells in those that love peace1 for peace is beloved2 but he is far off from the contentious1 and those who are full of malice4 #bgj ,wherefore restore unto him the ,spirit entire1 as ye received it4 ,for if thou shalt give unto a fuller a garment new and whole1 thou wilt expect to receive it whole again2 if therefore the fuller shall restore it unto thee torn1 wouldst thou receive it8 #bga ,wouldst thou not presently be angry1 and reproach him1 saying3 ,i gave my garment to thee whole1 why halt thou rent it1 and made it useless to me8 ,now it is of no use to me1 by reason of the rent which thou hast made in it4 ,wouldst thou not say all this to a fuller1 for the rent which he made in thy garment8 #bgb ,if therefore thou wouldst be concerned for thy garment1 and complain that thou hadst not received it whole2 what thinkest thou that the ,lord will do1 who gave his ,spirit to thee entire1 and thou hast rendered him altogether unprofitable1 so that he can be of no use unto his ,lord8 ,for being corrupted by thee1 he is no longer profitable to him4 #bgc ,will not therefore the ,lord do the same concerning his ,spirit1 by reason of thy deed8 ,undoubtedly1 said ,i1 he will do the same to all those whom he shall find to continue in the remembrance of injuries4 #bgd ,tread not then under foot he said1 his mercy2 but rather honour him1 because he is so patient with respect to your offences1 and not like one of you2 but repent1 for it will be profitable for you4 #bge ,all these things which are above written1 ,i the shepherd and angel of repentance1 have shown and spoken to the servants of ,god4 #bgf ,if therefore ye shall believe and hearken to these words1 and shall walk in them and correct your ways1 ye shall live4 ,but if ye shall1 continue in malice1 and in the remembrance of injuries1 no such sinners shall live unto ,god4 #bgg ,all these things which were to be spoken by me1 ,i have thus delivered unto you4 ,then the shepherd said unto me1 ,hast thou asked all things of me8 ,i answered1 sir1 ,i have4 #bgh ,why then1 said he1 hast thou not asked concerning the spaces of these stones that were put in the building1 that ,i may explain that also unto thee8 ,i answered1 sir1 ,i forgot it4 ,hear1 then1 said he1 concerning these also4 #bgi ,they are those who have now heard these commands1 and have repented with all their hearts2 #bhj ,and when the ,lord saw that their repentance was good and pure1 and that they could continue in it1 he commanded their former sins to be blotted out4 ,for these spaces were their sins1 and they are therefore made even that they might not appear4 ,,similitude ,x4 ,of ,repentance and alms-deeds4 ,,after ,i had written this book1 the angel which had delivered me to that shepherd1 came into the house where ,i was and sat upon the bed1 and that shepherd stood at his right hand4 #b ,then he called me and said unto me2 ,i delivered thee and thy house to this shepherd1 that thou mightest be protected by him4 ,i said1 ,yes1 ,lord4 #c ,if therefore1 said he1 thou wilt be protected from all vexations and from all cruelty1 and have success in every good word and work1 and have all virtue and righteousness2 walk in those commands which he has given thee1 and thou shalt have dominion over all sin4 #d ,for if thou keepest those commands1 all the lust and pleasure of this present world shall be subject to thee2 and success shall follow thee in every good undertaking4 #e ,take therefore his gravity and modesty towards thee1 and say unto all1 that he is in great honour and renown with ,god1 and is a prince of great authority1 and powerful in his office4 #f ,to him only is the power of repentance committed throughout the whole world4 ,does he not seem to thee to be of great authority8 #g ,but ye despise his goodness1 and the modesty which he shows towards you4 #h ,i said unto him2 ,sir1 ask him since the time that he came into my house whether ,i have done any thing disorderly1 or have offended him in any thing8 #i ,i know1 said he1 that thou hast done nothing disorderly1 neither wilt thou hereafter do any such thing1 and therefore ,i speak these things with thee that then mayest persevere2 for he has given me a good account concerning thee4 #aj ,but thou shalt speak these things to others1 that they who either have repented1 or shall repent1 may be like-minded with thee1 and he may give me as good an account of them also2 and that ,i may do the same unto the ,lord4 #aa ,i answered2 ,sir1 ,i declare to all men the wonderful works of ,god2 and ,i hope that all who love them1 and have before sinned1 when they shall hear these things1 will repent1 and recover life4 #ab ,continue therefore1 said he1 in this ministry1 and fulfil it4 ,and whosoever shall do according to the commands of this shepherd1 he shall live2 and shall have great honour both here and with the ,lord4 #ac ,but they that shall not keep his commands1 flee from their life1 and are adversaries to it4 ,and they that follow not his commands1 shall deliver themselves unto death2 and shall be every one guilty of his own blood4 #ad ,but ,i say unto thee1 keep these commandments1 and thou shalt find a cure for all thy sins4 #ae ,moreover1 ,i have sent these virgins to dwell with thee2 for ,i have seen that they are very kind to thee4 ,thou shalt therefore have them for thy helpers1 that thou mayest the better keep the commands which he hath given thee2 for these commands cannot be kept without these virgins4 #af ,and as ,i see how they are willing to be with thee1 ,i will also command them that they shall not all depart from thy house4 #ag ,only do thou purify thy house2 for they will readily dwell in a clean house4 ,for they are clean and chaste1 and industrious2 and all of them have grace with the ,lord4 #ah ,if therefore thou shalt have thy house pure1 they will abide with thee4 ,but1 if it shall be never so little polluted1 they will immediately depart from thy house2 for these virgins cannot endure any manner of pollution4 #ai ,i said unto him2 ,sir1 ,i hope that ,i shall so please them1 that they shall always delight to dwell in my house4 ,and as be to whom you have committed me1 makes no complaint of me2 so neither shall they complain4 #bj ,then he said to that shepherd3 ,i see that the servant of ,god will live and keep these commandments1 and place these virgins in a pure habitation4 #ba ,when he had said this1 he delivered me again to that shepherd1 and called the virgins1 and said unto them2 ,forasmuch as ,i see that ye will readily dwell in this man's house1 ,i commend him and his family to you1 that ye may not at all depart from his house4 ,and they willingly heard these words4 #bb ,then he said unto me1 ,go on manfully in thy ministry2 declare to all men the great things of ,god1 and thou shalt find grace in this ministry4 #bc ,and whosover shall walk in these commands1 shall live1 and be happy in his life4 ,but he that shall neglect them1 shall not live1 and shall be unhappy in his life4 #bd ,say unto all that whosoever can do well1 cease not to exercise themselves in good works1 for it is profitable unto them4 ,for ,i would that all men should be delivered from the inconveniences they lie under4 #be ,for he that wants1 and suffers inconveniences in his daily life1 is in great torment and necessity4 ,whosoever therefore delivers such a soul from necessity1 gets great joy unto himself4 #bf ,for he that is grieved with such inconveniencies is equally tormented1 as if he were in chains4 ,and many upon the account of such calamities1 being not able to bear them1 have chosen even to destroy themselves4 #bg ,he therefore that knows the calamity of such a man1 and does not free him from it1 commits a great sin1 and is guilty of his blood4 #bh ,wherefore exercise your4 selves in good works1 as many as have received ability from the ,lord2 lest whilst ye delay to do them1 the building of the tower be finished2 because for your sakes the building is stopped4 #bi ,except therefore ye shall make haste to do well1 the tower shall be finished1 and ye shall be shut out of it4 #cj ,and after he had thus spoken with me1 he rose up from the bed and departed1 taking the shepherd and virgins with him4 #ca ,howbeit he said unto me1 that he would send back the shepherd and virgins unto my house4 ,amen4 ,,references ,,to ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,hermas1 ,,the ,,shepherd4 ,this book1 divided into three parts1 called his ,,visions1 ,,commands1 and ,,similitudes1 is thus entitled1 because it was composed by ,hermas1 brother to ,pius1 bishop of ,rome2 and because the ,angel1 who bears the principal part in it1 is represented in the form and habit of a shepherd4 ,irenxus quotes it under the very name of ,scripture4 ,origen thought it a most useful writing1 and that it was divinely inspired2 ,eusebius says that1 though it was not esteemed canonical1 it was read publicly in the churches1 which is corroborated by ,jerome2 and ,athanasius cites it1 calls it a most useful work1 and observes1 that though it was not strictly canonical1 the ,fathers appointed it to be read for direction and confirmation in faith and piety4 ,jerome1 notwithstanding this1 and that he applauded it in his catalogue of writers1 in his comments upon it afterwards1 terms it apocryphal and foolish4 ,turtullian praised it when a ,catholic1 and abused it when a ,montanist4 ,although ,gelasius ranks it among the apocryphal books1 it is found attached to some of the most ancient ,,mss4 of the ,new ,testament2 and ,archbishop ,wake1 believing it the genuine work of an apostolical ,father1 preserves it to the ,english reader by the foregoing translation1 in which he has rendered the three parts of it not only more exact1 but in greater purity than they had before appeared4 ,the archbishop procured ,dr4 ,grabe to entirely collate the old ,latin version with an ancient ,,ms4 in the ,lambeth library2 and the learned prelate himself still further improved the whole from a multitude of fragments of the original ,greek never before used for that purpose4