shepherd of hermas heresy
He who makes such preparations for this city cannot return again to his own. It's not clear whether it's supposed to be instructive fiction or an actual account of visions by Hermas, a freed slave turned shady businessman, worried by his sharp-tongued wife and troubled kids. But the rest of them were hewn, and carried by the virgins, and fitted into the middle of the building of the tower; for they were somewhat weak. On account, therefore, of this loftiness of mind, many became vain, exalting themselves: for self-will and empty confidence is a great demon. But those who do not keep his commandments, flee from his life, and despise him. Secondly, Grieving the Holy Spirit, he works iniquity, neither entreating the Lord nor confessing to Him. And the great and glorious angel Michael is he who has authority over this people, and governs them; for this is he who gave them the law into the hearts of believers: he accordingly superintends them to whom he gave it, to see if they have kept the same. And ye who suffer for His name ought to glorify God, because He deemed you worthy to bear His name, that all your sins might be healed. And they came, rank by rank, and gave their branches to the Shepherd. a seal, and may glorify the Lord because He had compassion upon them, and sent you to renew their spirits.” “Listen,” he said: “they whose branches were found withered and moth-eaten are the apostates and traitors of the Church, who have blasphemed the Lord in their sins, and have, moreover, been ashamed of the name of the Lord by which they were called. He next examined those that had cracks; and he hewed many of these, and commanded them to be carried by the virgins to the building: and they were placed on the outside, because they were found to be sounder than the others; but the rest, on account of the multitude of the cracks, could not be hewn, and for this reason, therefore, they were rejected from the building of the tower. Give ear to me, then, and fear Him who has all power, both to save and destroy, and keep His commandments, and ye will live to God.” I say to him, “Sir, I am now made strong in all the ordinances of the Lord, because you are with me; and I know that you will crush all the power of the devil, and we shall have rule over him, and shall prevail against all his works. “This commandment exhibits the deeds of faith, that you may trust the works of the angel of righteousness, and doing them you may live to God. And she says to me, “Can you carry a report of these things to the elect of God?” I say to her, “Lady, so much I cannot retain in my memory, but give me the book and I shall transcribe it.” “Take it,” says she, “and you will give it back to me.” Thereupon I took it, and going away into a certain part of the country, I transcribed the whole of it letter by letter; but the syllables of it I did not catch. He will not be darkened by any evil spirit, but, dwelling in a broad region, he will rejoice and be glad; and with the vessel in which he dwells he will serve God in gladness, having great peace within himself. For he who inquires of a false prophet in regard to any action is an idolater, and devoid of the truth, and foolish. Now this age must be cut down in these things, and in the vanities of their riches, and then they will meet in the kingdom of God; for they must of necessity enter into the kingdom of God, because the Lord has blessed this innocent race. For the path of righteousness is straight, but that of unrighteousness is crooked. OF GRIEF, AND NOT GRIEVING THE SPIRIT OF GOD WHICH IS IN US. If the husband do not take her back, he sins, and brings a great sin upon himself; for he ought to take back the sinner who has repented. But when the rich man refreshes the poor, and assists him in his necessities, believing that what he does to the poor man will be able to find its reward with God–because the poor man is rich in intercession and confession, and his intercession has great power with God–then the rich man helps the poor in all things without hesitation; and the poor man, being helped by the rich, intercedes for him, giving thanks to God for him who bestows gifts upon him. If, accordingly, when he ought to do good, he do evil, does not he appear to do greater evil than he who does not know God? When, then, a man having the Divine Spirit comes into an assembly of righteous men who have faith in the Divine Spirit, and this assembly of men offers up prayer to God, then the angel of the prophetic Spirit, who is destined for him, fills the man; and the man being filled with the Holy Spirit, speaks to the multitude as the Lord wishes. do you not see the tower yet building? And his fellow-slaves rejoiced to receive the dishes, and began to pray for him, that he might find still greater favour with his master for having so treated them. But they who occupy the large clefts are persistent in their slanders, and vindictive in their anger against each other. And they were clothed with linen tunics, and gracefully girded, having their right shoulders exposed, as if about to bear some burden. You saw,” he added, “the multitude who were building the tower?” “I saw them, sir,” I said. For on this account was there a cessation in the building, in order that, if these repent, they may depart into the building of the tower. In discussing why Hermas wrote the Shepherd, it is revealing to consider what kind of work it is. Look now at the works of the angel of iniquity. “I replied. These all,” he said, “received the name of God, and they received also the strength of these virgins. If they give him back this spirit untruthful, they pollute the commandment of the Lord, and become robbers.” On hearing these words, I wept most violently. AS I was walking in the field, and observing an elm and vine, and determining in my own, mind respecting them and their fruits, the Shepherd appears to me, and says, “What is it that you are thinking about the elm and vine?” “I am considering,” I reply, “that they become each other exceedingly well.” “These two trees,” he continues, “are intended as an example for the servants of God.” “I would like to know,” said I, “the example which these trees you say, are intended to teach.” “Do you see,” he says, “the elm and the vine?” “I see them sir,” I replied. “And they who gave in their branches half-green and half-withered, are those who are immersed in business, and do not cleave to the saints. Moreover, adultery is committed not only by those who pollute their flesh, but by those who imitate the heathen in their actions.” Wherefore if any one persists in such deeds, and repents not, withdraw from him, and cease to live with him. For if you pack closely a storehouse with wine or oil, and put an empty jar in the midst of the vessels of wine or oil, you will find that jar empty as when you placed it, if you should wish to clear the storehouse.