Visions

Vision 1

1 He who brought me up sold me to a certain Rhoda at Rome. After many years I made her acquaintance again, and began to love her as a sister.

After some time I saw her bathing in the river Tiber, and gave her my hand and helped her out of the river. When I saw her beauty I reflected in my heart and said: “I should be happy if I had a wife of such beauty and character.” This was my only thought, and no other, no, not one.

After some time, while I was going to Cumae, and glorifying the creation of God, for its greatness and splendour and might, as I walked along I became sleepy. And a spirit seized me and took me away through a certain pathless district, through which a man could not walk, but the ground was precipitous and broken up by the streams of water. So I crossed that river, and came to the level ground and knelt down and began to pray to the Lord and to confess my sins.

Now while I was praying the Heaven was opened, and I saw that woman whom I had desired greeting me out of the Heaven and saying: “Hail, Hermas.”

And I looked at her, and said to her: “Lady, what are you doing here?” and she answered me: “I was taken up to accuse you of your sins before the Lord.”

I said to her: “Are you now accusing me?” “No,” she said, “but listen to the words which I am going to say to you. ‘God who dwells in Heaven’ and created that which is out of that which is not, and ‘increased and multiplied it,’ for the sake of his Holy Church, is angry with you because you sinned against me.”

I answered and said to her: “Did I sin against you? In what place, or when did I speak an evil word to you? Did I not always look on you as a goddess? Did I not always respect you as a sister? Why do you charge me falsely, Lady, with these wicked and impure things?”

She laughed and said to me: “The desire of wickedness came up in your heart. Or do you not think that it is an evil deed for a righteous man if an evil desire come up in his heart? Yes, it is a sin,” said she, “and a great one. For the righteous man has righteous designs. So long then as his designs are righteous his repute stands fast in Heaven, and he finds the Lord ready to assist him in all his doings. But they who have evil designs in their hearts bring upon themselves death and captivity, especially those who obtain this world for themselves, and glory in their wealthy and do not lay hold of the good things which are to come.

“Their hearts will repent; yet have they no hope, but they have abandoned themselves and their life. But do you pray to God, and ‘He shall heal the sins of yourself,’ and of all your house and of all the saints.”

2 After she had spoken these words the Heavens were shut, and I was all shuddering and in grief. And I began to say in myself: “If this sin is recorded against me, how shall I be saved? Or how shall I propitiate God for my completed sins? Or with what words shall I beseech the Lord to be forgiving unto me?”

While I was considering and doubting these things in my heart I saw before me a white chair of great size made of snow-white wool; and there came a woman, old and clothed in shining garments with a book in her hand, and she sat down alone and greeted me: “Hail, Hermas!” And I, in my grief and weeping, said: “Hail, Lady!”

And she said to me: “Why are you gloomy, Hermas? You who are patient and good-tempered, who are always laughing, why are you so downcast in appearance and not merry?” And I said to her: “Because of a most excellent lady, who says that I sinned against her.”

And she said: “By no means let this thing happen to the servant of God; but for all that the thought did enter your heart concerning her. It is such a design as this which brings sin on the servants of God. For it is an evil and mad purpose against a revered spirit and one already approved, if a man desire an evil deed, and especially if it be Hermas the temperate, who abstains from every evil desire and is full of all simplicity and great innocence.

3 “But it is not for this that God is angry with you, but in order that you should convert your family, which has sinned against the Lord, and against you, their parents. But you are indulgent, and do not correct your family, but have allowed them to become corrupt. For this reason the Lord is angry with you, but he will heal all the past evils in your family, for because of their sins and wickednesses have you been corrupted by the things of daily life.

“But the great mercy of the Lord has had pity on you and on your family, and will make you strong and will establish you in his glory; only do not be slothful, but have courage and strengthen your family. For as the smith, by hammering his work, overcomes the task which he desires, so also the daily righteous word overcomes all wickedness. Do not cease, then, correcting your children, for I know that if they repent with all their heart, they will be inscribed in the books of life with the saints.”

After she had ceased these words she said to me: “Would you like to hear me read aloud?” and I said: “I should like it, Lady.” She said to me: “Listen then, and hear the glory of God.” I heard great and wonderful things which I cannot remember; for all the words were frightful, such as a man cannot bear. So I remembered the last words, for they were profitable for us and gentle:

“Lo, ‘the God of the powers,’ whom I love, by his mighty power, and by his great wisdom ‘created the world,’ and by his glorious counsel surrounded his creation with beauty, and by his mighty word ‘fixed the Heaven and founded the earth upon the waters,’ and by his own wisdom and forethought created his holy Church, which he also blessed—Lo, he changes the heavens, and the mountains and the hills and the seas, and all things are becoming smooth for his chosen ones, to give them the promise which he made with great glory and joy, if they keep the ordinances of God, which they received with great faith.”

4 So, when she had finished reading, and rose from the chair, there came four young men, and took up the chair and went away towards the East.

And she called me and touched my breast and said to me; “Did my reading please you?” and I said to her: “Lady, this last part pleases me, but the first part was hard and difficult.” And she said to me: “This last part is for the righteous, but the first part was for the heathen and the apostates.”

While she was speaking with me two men appeared, and took her by the arm and they went away towards the East, whither the chair had gone. But she went away cheerfully, and as she went said to me, “Play the man, Hermas.”

Vision 2

1 While I was going to Cumae, at about the same time as the year before, as I walked along I remembered the vision of the previous year, and the spirit again seized me and took me away to the same place, where I had been the previous year.

So when I came to the place, I knelt down and began to pray to the Lord and “to glorify his name,” because he had thought me worthy, and had made known to me my former sins.

But after I rose from prayer I saw before me the ancient lady, whom I had seen the year before, walking and reading out from a little book. And she said to me: “Can you take this message to God’s elect ones?” I said to her: “Lady, I cannot remember so much; but give me the little book to copy.” “Take it,” she said, “and give it me back.”

I took it and went away to a certain place in the country, and copied it all, letter by letter, for I could not distinguish the syllables. So when I had finished the letters of the little book it was suddenly taken out of my hand; but I did not see by whom.

2 But after fifteen days, when I had fasted and prayed greatly to the Lord, the knowledge of the writing was revealed to me. And these things were written:

Your seed, Hermas, have set God at naught, and have blasphemed the Lord, and have betrayed their parents in great wickedness, and they are called the betrayers of parents, and their betrayal has not profited them, but they have added to their sins wanton deeds and piled up wickedness, and so their crimes have been made complete.

But make these words known to all your children and to your wife, who shall in future be to you as a sister. For she also does not refrain her tongue, with which she sins; but when she has heard these words she will refrain it, and will obtain mercy.

After you have made known these words to them, which the Master commanded me to reveal to you, all the sins which they have formerly committed shall be forgiven them, and they shall be forgiven to all the saints who have sinned up to this day, if they repent with their whole heart, and put aside double-mindedness from their heart.

For the Master has sworn to his elect by his glory that if there be still sin after this day has been fixed, they shall find no salvation; for repentance for the just has an end; the days of repentance have been fulfilled for all the saints, but for the heathen repentance is open until the last day.

You shall say, then, to the leaders of the Church, that they reform their ways in righteousness, to receive in full the promises with great glory.

You, therefore, “who work righteousness,” must remain steadfast and be not double-minded, that your passing may be with the holy angels. Blessed are you, as many as endure the great persecution which is coming, and as many as shall not deny their life.

For the Lord has sworn by his Son that those who have denied their Christ have been rejected from their life, that is, those who shall now deny him in the days to come. But those who denied him formerly have obtained forgiveness through his great mercy.

3 “But, Hermas, no longer bear a grudge against your children, nor neglect your sister, that they may be cleansed from their former sins. For they will be corrected with righteous correction, if you bear no grudge against them. The bearing of grudges works death. But you, Hermas, had great troubles of your own because of the transgressions of your family, because you did not pay attention to them. But you neglected them and became entangled in their evil deeds.

“But you are saved by not ‘having broken away from the living God,’ and by your simplicity and great temperance. These things have saved you, if you remain in them, and they save all whose deeds are such, and who walk in innocence and simplicity. These shall overcome all wickedness and remain steadfast to eternal life.

“‘Blessed,’ are all they ‘who do righteousness’; they shall not perish for ever.

“But you shall say to Maximus: ‘Behold, persecution is coming, if it seems good to you deny the faith again,’ ‘The Lord is near those that turn to him,’ as it is written in the Book of Eldad and Modat, who prophesied to the people in the wilderness.”

4 And a revelation was made to me, brethren. while I slept, by a very beautiful young man who said to me, “Who do you think that the ancient lady was from whom you received the little book?” I said, “The Sibyl.” “You are wrong,” he said, “she is not.” “Who is she, then?” I said. “The Church,” he said. I said to him, “Why then is she old?” “Because,” he said, “she was created the first of all things. For this reason is she old; and for her sake was the world established.”

And afterwards I saw a vision in my house. The ancient lady came and asked me if I had already given the book to the elders. I said that I had not given it. “You have done well,” she said, “for I have words to add. When, therefore, I have finished all the words they shall be made known by you to all the elect.

“You shall therefore write two little books and send one to Clement and one to Grapte. Clement then shall send it to the cities abroad, for that is his duty; and Grapte shall exhort the widows and orphans; but in this city you shall read it yourself with the elders who are in charge of the church.”

Vision 3

1 The third vision which I saw, brethren, was as follows:

I had fasted for a long time, and prayed the Lord to explain to me the revelation which he had promised to show me through that ancient lady; and in the same night the ancient lady appeared to me and said to me: “Since you are so importunate and zealous to know everything, come into the country, where you are farming, and at the fifth hour I will appear to you, and show you what you must see.”

I asked her, saying, “Lady, to what part of the field?” “Where you like,” she said. I chose a beautiful secluded spot; but before I spoke to her and mentioned the place she said to me, “I will be there, where you wish.”

I went, therefore, brethren, to the country, and I counted the hours, and I came to the spot where I had arranged for her to come, and I saw a couch of ivory placed there, and on the couch there lay a linen pillow, and over it a covering of fine linen was spread out.

When I saw these things lying there, and no one in the place I was greatly amazed, and, as it were, trembling seized me and my hair stood on end. And, as it were, panic came to me because I was alone. When therefore I came to myself, and remembered the glory of God and took courage, I knelt down and confessed my sins again to the Lord, as I had also done before.

And she came with six young men, whom I had also seen on the former occasion, and stood by me, and listened to me praying and confessing my sins to the Lord. And she touched me and said: “Hermas! stop asking all these questions about your sins, ask also concerning righteousness, that you may take presently some part of it to your family.”

And she raised me up by the hand and took me to the couch and said to the young men: “Go and build.”

And after the young men had gone away and we were alone, she said to me: “Sit here.” I said to her: “Lady, let the elders sit first.” She said: “Do what I tell you, and sit down.”

Yet when I wished to sit on the right hand she would not let me, but signed to me with her hand to sit on the left. When therefore I thought about this, and was grieved because she did not let me sit on the right hand, she said to me: “Are you sorry, Hermas? The seat on the right is for others, who have already been found well-pleasing to God and have suffered for the Name. But you fall far short of sitting with them. But remain in your simplicity as you are doing, and you shall sit with them, and so shall all who do their deeds and bear what they also bore.”

2 “What,” I said, “did they bear?” “Listen,” she said: “Stripes, imprisonments, great afflictions, crucifixions, wild beasts, for the sake of the Name. Therefore is it given to them to be on the right hand of the Holiness, and to everyone who shall suffer for the Name; but for the rest there is the left side. But both, whether they sit on the right or the left, have the same gifts, and the same promises, only the former sit on the right and have somewhat of glory.

“And you are desirous of sitting on the right hand with them, but your failings are many. But you shall be cleansed from your failings, and all who are not double-minded shall be cleansed from all sins, up to this day.”

When she had said this she wished to go away, but I fell at her feet and besought her by the Lord, to show me the vision which she had promised.

And she again took me by the hand and lifted me up, and made me sit on the couch on the left and she herself sat on the right. And she lifted up a certain glittering rod, and she said to me: “Do you see a great thing?” I said to her: “Lady, I see nothing.” She said to me: “Behold, do you not see before you a great tower being built on the water with shining square stones?”

Now the tower was being built four-square by the six young men who had come with her; but tens of thousands of other men were bringing stones, some from the deep sea, and some from the land, and were giving them to the six young men, and these kept taking them and building.

The stones which had been dragged from the deep sea, they placed without exception as they were into the building, for they had all been shaped and fitted into the joins with the other stones. And they so fastened one to the other that their joins could not be seen. But the building of the tower appeared as if it had been built of a single stone.

Of the other stones, which were being brought from the dry ground, they cast some away, and some they put into the building and others they broke up and cast far from the tower.

And many other stones were lying round the tower, and they did not use them for the building, for some of them were rotten, and others had cracks, and others were too short, and others were white and round and did not fit into the building.

And I saw other stones being cast far from the tower, and coming on to the road, and not staying on the road, but rolling from the road into the rough ground. And others were falling into the fire, and were being burnt, and others were falling near the water, and could not be rolled into the water, although men wished them to be rolled on and to come into the water.

3 When she had showed me these things she wished to hasten away. I said to her: “Lady, what does it benefit me to have seen these things, if I do not know what they mean?” She answered me and said: “You are a persistent man, wanting to know about the tower.” “Yes,” I said, “Lady, in order that I may report to my brethren, and that they may be made more joyful, and when they hear these things may know the Lord in great glory.”

And she said: “Many indeed shall hear, but some of them shall rejoice when they hear, and some shall mourn. But these also, if they hear and repent, even they shall rejoice. Hear then, the parables of the tower, for I will reveal everything to you. And no longer trouble me about revelation, for these revelations are finished, for they have been fulfilled. Yet you will not cease asking for revelations, for you are shameless.

“The tower which you see being built is myself, the Church, who have appeared to you both now and formerly. Ask, therefore, what you will about the tower, and I will reveal it to you, that you may rejoice with the saints.”

I said to her: “Lady, since you have once thought me worthy to reveal everything to me, proceed with the revelation.” And she said to me: “What is permitted to be revealed to you shall be revealed; only let your heart be turned towards God and do not be double-minded as to what you see.”

I asked her: “Why has the tower been built on the water. Lady?” “As I told you before, you are seeking diligently,” said she, “and so by seeking you are finding out the truth. Hear, then, why the tower has been built upon the water: because your life was saved and shall be saved through water, and the tower has been founded by the utterance of the almighty and glorious Name, and is maintained bv the unseen power of the Master.”

4 I answered and said to her: “Lady, great and wonderful is this thing. But, Lady, who are the six young men who are building?” “These are the holy angels of God, who were first created, to whom the Lord delivered all his creation to make it increase, and to build it up, and to rule the whole creation. Through them, therefore, the building of the tower shall be completed.”

“But who are the others, who are bringing the stones?” “They also are holy angels of God, but these six are greater than they. Therefore the building of the tower shall be completed, and all shall rejoice together around the tower, and shall glorify God because the building of the tower has been completed.”

I asked her saying: “Lady, I would like to know the end of the stones, and what kind of force they have.” She answered me and said: “It is not because you are more worthy than all others that a revelation should be made to you, for there were others before you and better than you, to whom these visions ought to have been revealed. But in order that ‘the name of God might be glorified,’ they have been, and shall be, revealed to you because of the double-minded who dispute in their heart whether these things are so or not. Tell them, that all these things are true, and that there is nothing beyond the truth, but that all things are strong and certain and well-founded.

5 “Listen then concerning the stones which go into the building. The stones which are square and white and which fit into their joins are the Apostles and bishops and teachers and deacons who walked according to the majesty of God, and served the elect of God in holiness and reverence as bishops and teachers and deacons; some of them are fallen asleep and some are still alive. And they always agreed among themselves, and had peace among themselves, and listened to one another; for which cause their joins fit in the building of the tower.”

“But who are they who have been brought out of the deep sea, and added on to the building, and agree in their joins with the other stones which have already been built?” “These are they who have suffered for the name of the Lord.”

“But I should like to know, Lady, who are the other stones which are being brought from the dry land?” She said: “Those which go into the building without being hewed are they whom the Lord approved because they walked in the uprightness of the Lord and preserved his commandments.”

“But who are they who are being brought and placed in the building?” “They are young in the faith and faithful; but they are being exhorted by the angels to good deeds, because wickedness has been found in them.”

“But who are they whom they were rejecting and throwing away?” “These are they who have sinned and wish to repent; for this reason they have not been cast far away from the tower, because they will be valuable for the building if they repent. Those, then, who are going to repent, if they do so, will be strong in the faith if they repent now, while the tower is being built; but if the building be finished, they no longer have a place, but will be cast away. But they have only this,—that they lie beside the tower.”

6 “Do you wish to know who are those which are being broken up and cast far from the tower? These are the sons of wickedness; and their faith was hypocrisy, and no wickedness departed from them. For this cause they had no salvation, for because of their wickedness they are not useful for the building. Therefore they were broken up and cast far away, because of the anger of the Lord, for they had provoked his anger.

“But the others of whom you saw many left lying and not going into the building, of these those which are rotten are they who have known the truth, but are not remaining in it.”

“And who are they which have the cracks?” “These are they who bear malice in their hearts against one another, and are not ‘at peace among themselves,’ but maintain the appearance of peace, yet when they depart from one another their wickednesses remain in their hearts. These are the cracks which the stones have.

“And those which are too short are they which have believed, and they live for the greater part in righteousness, but have some measure of wickedness. Therefore they are short and not perfect.”

“But who, Lady, are the white and round ones which do not fit into the building?” She answered and said to me, “How long will you be stupid and foolish, and ask everything and understand nothing? These are they which have faith, but have also the riches of this world. When persecution comes, because of their wealth and because of business they deny their Lord.”

And I answered and said to her, “Lady, but then when will they be useful for the building?” “When,” she said, “their wealth, which leads their souls astray, shall be cut off from them, then they will be useful to God. For just as the round stone cannot become square, unless something be cut off and taken away from it, so too they who have riches in this world cannot be useful to the Lord unless their wealth be cut away from them.

“Understand it first from your own case; when you were rich, you were useless, but now you are useful and helpful for the Life. Be useful to God, for you yourself are taken from the same stones.

7 “But as for the other stones which you saw being cast far from the tower, and falling on to the road, and rolling from the road on to the rough ground; these are they who have believed, but because of their double-mindedness leave their true road. They think that it is possible to find a better road, and err and wander miserably in the rough ground.

“And they who are falling into the fire and are being burnt, these are they who finally ‘apostatise from the living God,’ and it no longer enters into their hearts to repent because of their licentious lusts, and the crimes which they have committed.

“But do you wish to know who are the others which are falling near the water and cannot be rolled into the water? ‘These are they who have heard the Word,’ and wish to be baptised ‘in the name of the Lord.’ Then, when the purity of the Truth comes into their recollection they repent and go again ‘after their evil lusts.’”

So she ended the explanation of the tower.

I was still unabashed and asked her whether really all these stones which have been cast away, and do not fit into the building of the tower,—whether repentance is open to them, and they have a place in this tower. “Repentance,” she said, “they have, but they cannot fit into this tower.

“But they will fit into another place much less honourable, and even this only after they have been tormented and fulfilled the days of their sins, and for this reason they will be removed, because they shared in the righteous Word. And then it shall befall them to be removed from their torments, because of the wickedness of the deeds which they committed. But if it come not into their hearts they have no salvation, because of the hardness of their hearts.”

8 When, therefore, I ceased asking her all these things, she said to me: “Would you like to see something else?” I was anxious to see it, and rejoiced greatly at the prospect.

She looked at me and smiled and said to me: “Do you see seven women round the tower?” “Yes,” I said; “I see them.” “This tower is being supported by them according to the commandment of the Lord.

“Hear now their qualities. The first of them who is clasping her hands is called Faith. Through her the chosen of God are saved.

“The second, who is girded and looks like a man, is called Continence; she is the daughter of Faith. Whosoever then shall follow her becomes blessed in his life, because he will abstain from all evil deeds, believing that if he refrains from every evil lust he will inherit eternal life.”

“But who are the others. Lady?” “They are daughters one of the other, and their names are Simplicity, Knowledge, Innocence, Reverence, and Love. When therefore you perform all the deeds of their mother, you can live.”

“I would like, Lady,” said I, “to know what are their several powers.” “Listen,” she said, “to the powers which they have.

“Their powers are supported one by the other, and they follow one another according to their birth. From Faith is born Continence, from Continence Simplicity, from Simplicity Innocence, from Innocence Reverence, from Reverence Knowledge, from Knowledge Love. Their works therefore are pure and reverent and godly.

“Whosoever then serves them, and has the strength to lay hold of their works, shall have his dwelling in the tower with the saints of God.”

And I began to ask her about the times, if the end were yet. But she cried out with a loud voice saying, “Foolish man, do you not see the tower still being built? Whenever therefore the building of the tower has been finished, the end comes. But it will quickly be built up; ask me nothing more. This reminder and the renewal of your spirits is sufficient for you and for the saints.

“But the revelation was not for you alone, but for you to explain it to them all,

“after three days, for you must understand it first. But I charge you first, Hermas, with these words, which I am going to say to you, to speak them all into the ears of the saints, that they may hear them and do them and be cleansed from their wickedness, and you with them.

9 “Listen to me, children; I brought you up in great simplicity and innocence and reverence by the mercy of God, who instilled righteousness into you that you should be justified and sanctified from all wickedness and all crookedness. But you do not wish to cease from your wickedness.

“Now, therefore, listen to me and ‘be at peace among yourselves,’ and regard one another and ‘help one another,’ and do not take a superabundant share of the creatures of God for yourselves, but give also a part to those who lack.

“For some are contracting illness in the flesh by too much eating, and are injuring their flesh, and the flesh of the others who have nothing to eat is being injured by their not having sufficient food and their body is being destroyed.

“So this lack of sharing is harmful to you who are rich, and do not share with the poor.

“Consider the judgment which is coming. Let therefore they who have over-abundance seek out those who are hungry, so long as the tower is not yet finished; for when the tower has been finished you will wish to do good, and will have no opportunity.

“See to it then, you who rejoice in your wealth, that the destitute may not groan, and their groans go up to the Lord, and you with your goods be shut outside the door of the tower.

“Therefore I speak now to the leaders of the Church and to those ‘who take the chief seats.’ Be not like the sorcerers, for sorcerers carry their charms in boxes, but you carry your charms and poison in your hearts.

“You are hardened, and will not cleanse your hearts, and mix your wisdom together in a pure heart that you may find mercy by ‘the great King.’

“See to it, therefore, children, that these disagreements do not rob you of your life.

“How will you correct the chosen of the Lord if you yourselves suffer no correction? Correct therefore one another and ‘be at peace among yourselves,’ that I also may stand joyfully before the Father, and give an account of you all to the Lord.”

10 When therefore she ceased speaking with me, the six young men who were building came and took her away to the tower, and four others took up the couch and bore it away also to the tower. I did not see their faces because they were turned away.

But as she was going I asked her to give me a revelation concerning the three forms in which she had appeared to me. She answered me and said, “Concerning these things you must ask some one else to reveal them to you.”

Now she had appeared to me, brethren, in the first vision in the former year as very old and sitting on a chair.

But in the second vision her face was younger, but her body and hair were old and she spoke with me standing; but she was more joyful than the first time.

But in the third vision she was quite young and exceeding beautiful and only her hair was old; and she was quite joyful, and sat on a couch.

I was very unhappy about this, and wished to understand this revelation, and in a vision of the night I saw the ancient lady saying to me, “Every request needs humility: fast therefore and you shall receive what you ask from the Lord.”

So I fasted one day and in the same night a young man appeared to me and said to me, “Why do you ask constantly for revelations in your prayer? Take care lest by your many requests you injure your flesh.

“These revelations are sufficient for you. Can you see mightier revelations than you have seen?”

I answered and said to him, “Sir, I only ask you that there may be a complete revelation concerning the three forms of the ancient lady.” He answered and said to me, “How long are you foolish? You are made foolish by your double-mindedness and because your heart is not turned to the Lord.”

I answered and said again to him, “But from you, sir, we shall know them more accurately.”

11 “Listen,” he said, “concerning the forms which you are asking about.

“Why did she appear to you in the first vision as old and seated on a chair? Because your spirit is old and already fading away, and has no power through your weakness and double-mindedness.

“For just as old people, who have no longer any hope of becoming young again, look for nothing except their last sleep, so also you, who have been weakened by the occupations of this life, have given yourself up to worry, and have not ‘cast your cares upon the Lord.’ But your mind was broken, and you grew old in your sorrows.”

“Why, then, I should like to know, did she sit in a chair, sir?” “Because every sick person sits in a chair because of his sickness, that the weakness of the body may find support. Here you have the type of the first vision.

12 “But in the second vision you saw her standing, and with a more youthful and more cheerful countenance than the former time, but with the body and hair of old age. Listen,” he said, “also to this parable.

“When anyone is old, he already despairs of himself by reason of his weakness and poverty, and expects nothing except the last day of his life. Then an inheritance was suddenly left him, and he heard it, and rose up and was very glad and put on his strength; and he no longer lies down but stands up, and his spirit which was already destroyed by his former deeds is renewed, and he no longer sits still, but takes courage. So also did you, when you heard the revelation, which the Lord revealed to you,

“that he had mercy upon you, and renewed your spirit; and you put aside your weakness, and strength came to you, and you were made mighty in faith, and the Lord saw that you had been made strong and he rejoiced. And for this reason he showed you the building of the tower, and he will show you other things if you ‘remain at peace among yourselves,’ with all your heart.

13 “But in the third vision you saw her young and beautiful and joyful and her appearance was beautiful.

“For just as if some good news come to one who is in grief, he straightway forgets his former sorrow, and thinks of nothing but the news which he has heard, and for the future is strengthened to do good, and his spirit is renewed because of the joy which he has received; so you also have received the renewal of your spirits by seeing these good things.

“And in that you saw her sitting on a couch, the position is secure, for a couch has four feet and stands securely, for even the world is controlled by four elements.

“They, therefore, who have repented shall completely recover their youth and be well founded, because they have repented with all their heart. You have the revelation completed; no longer ask anything about the revelation, but if anything be needed it shall be revealed to you.”

Vision 4

1 The fourth vision which I saw, brethren. twenty days after the former vision, was a type of the persecution which is to come.

I was going into the country by the Via Campana. The place is about ten furlongs from the public road, and is easily reached.

As I walked by myself I besought the Lord to complete the revelations and visions which he had shown me by his holy Church, to make me strong and give repentance to his servants who had been offended, “to glorify his,” great and glorious “name,” because he had thought me worthy to show me his wonders.

And while I was glorifying him and giving him thanks an answer came to me as an echo of my voice, “Do not be double-minded, Hermas.” I began to reason in myself, and to say, “In what ways can I be double-minded after being given such a foundation by the Lord, and having seen his glorious deeds?”

And I approached a little further, brethren, and behold, I saw dust reaching as it were up to heaven, and I began to say to myself. Are cattle coming and raising dust? and it was about a furlong away from me.

When the dust grew greater and greater I supposed that it was some portent. The sun shone out a little, and lo! I saw a great beast like some Leviathan, and fiery locusts were going out of his mouth. The beast was in size about a hundred feet and its head was like a piece of pottery.

And I began to weep and to pray the Lord to rescue me from it, and I remembered the word which I had heard, “Do not be double-minded, Hermas.”

Thus, brethren, being clothed in the faith of the Lord and remembering the great things which he had taught me, I took courage and faced the beast. And as the beast came on with a rush it was as though it could destroy a city.

I came near to it, and the Leviathan for all its size stretched itself out on the ground, and put forth nothing except its tongue, and did not move at all until I had passed it by.

And the beast had on its head four colours, black, then the colour of flame and blood, then golden, then white.

2 After I had passed the beast by and had gone about thirty feet further, lo! a maiden met me, “adorned as if coming forth from the bridal chamber,” all in white and with white sandals, veiled to the forehead, and a turban for a head-dress, but her hair was white.

I recognised from the former visions that it was the Church, and I rejoiced the more. She greeted me saying, “Hail, O man,” and I greeted her in return, “Hail, Lady.”

She answered me and said, “Did nothing meet you?” I said to her, “Yes, Lady, such a beast as could destroy nations, but by the power of the Lord, and by his great mercy, I escaped it.”

“You did well to escape it,” she said, “because you cast your care upon God, and opened your heart to the Lord, believing that salvation can be found through nothing save through the great and glorious name. Therefore the Lord sent his angel, whose name is Thegri, who is over the beast, ‘and shut his mouth that he should not hurt you.’ You have escaped great tribulation through your faith, and because you were not double-minded when you saw so great a beast.

“Go then and tell the Lord’s elect ones of his great deeds, and tell them that this beast is a type of the great persecution which is to come. If then you are prepared beforehand, and repent with all your hearts towards the Lord, you will be able to escape it, if your heart be made pure and blameless, and you serve the Lord blamelessly for the rest of the days of your life. ‘Cast your cares upon the Lord,’ and he will put them straight.

“Believe on the Lord, you who are double-minded, that he can do all things, and turns his wrath away from you, and sends scourges on you who are double-minded. Woe to those who hear these words and disobey; it were better for them not to have been born.”

3 I asked her concerning the four colours which the beast had on its head. She answered and said to me, “Are you again curious about such matters?” “Yes,” I said, “Lady, let me know what they are.”

“Listen,” she said, “the black is this world, in which you are living;

“the colour of fire and blood means that this world must be destroyed by blood and fire.

“The golden part is you, who have fled from this world, for even as gold is ‘tried in the fire,’ and becomes valuable, so also you who live among them, are being tried. Those then who remain and pass through the flames shall be purified by them. Even as the gold puts away its dross, so also you will put away all sorrow and tribulation, and will be made pure and become useful for the building of the tower.

“But the white part is the world to come, in which the elect of God shall dwell, for those who have been chosen by God for eternal life will be without spot and pure.

“Therefore do not cease to speak to the ears of the saints. You have also the type of the great persecution to come, but if you will it shall be nothing. Remember what was written before.”

When she had said this she went away, and I did not see to what place she departed, for there was a cloud, and I turned backwards in fear, thinking that the beast was coming.

Vision 5

1 While I was praying at home and sitting on my bed, there entered a man glorious to look on, in the dress of a shepherd, covered with a white goatskin, with a bag on his shoulders and a staff in his hand. And he greeted me, and I greeted him back.

And at once he sat down by me, and said to me, “I have been sent by the most reverend angel to dwell with you the rest of the days of your life.”

I thought he was come tempting me, and said to him, “Yes, but who are you? for,” I said, “I know to whom I was handed over.” He said to me, “Do you not recognise me?” “No,” I said. “I,” said he, “am the shepherd to whom you were handed over.”

While he was still speaking, his appearance changed, and I recognised him, that it was he to whom I was handed over; and at once I was confounded, and fear seized me, and I was quite overcome with sorrow that I had answered him so basely and foolishly.

But he answered me and said, “Be not confounded, but be strong in my commandments which I am going to command you. For I was sent,” said he, “to show you again all the things which you saw before, for they are the main points which are helpful to you. First of all write my commandments and the parables; but the rest you shall write as I shall show you. This is the reason,” said he, “that I command you to write first the commandments and parables, that you may read them out at once, and be able to keep them.”

So I wrote the commandments and parables as he commanded me.

If then you hear and keep them, and walk in them, and do them with a pure heart, you shall receive from the Lord all that he promised you, but if you hear them and do not repent, but continue to add to your sins, you shall receive the contrary from the Lord. All these things the shepherd commanded me to write thus, for he was the angel of repentance.