God all the rest of your days without complaint. 21 Cast all your cares upon the Lord, and he will direct them; believe in God, ye doubtful, because he can do all things; he can both turn away his wrath from you, and send you help and security. 22 Wo to the doubtful, to those who shall hear these words, and shall despise them: it had been better for them that they had not been born. 23 ¶ Then I asked her concerning the four colours which the beast had upon its head. But she answered me, saying, Again thou art curious in that thou askest concerning these things. And I said unto her, Lady, show me what they are. 24 Hear, said she; The black which thou sawest, denotes the world in which you dwell. The fiery and bloody colour, signifies, that this age must be destroyed by fire and blood. 25 The golden part are ye, who have escaped out of it. For as gold is tried by the fire, and is made profitable, so are ye also in like manner tried who dwell among the men of this world. 26 They, therefore, that shall endure to the end, and be proved by them, shall be purged. And as gold, by this trial, is cleansed, and loses its dross, so shall ye also cast away all sorrow and trouble; and be made pure for the building of the tower. 27 But the white colour denotes the time of the world which is to come, in which the elect of God shall dwell; because the elect of God shall be pure and without spot unto life eternal. 28 Wherefore do not thou cease to speak these things in the ears of the saints. Here ye have the figure of the great tribulation that is about to come; which, if you please, shall be nothing to you. Keep therefore in mind the things which I have said unto you. 29 When she had spoken thus much, she departed; but I saw not whither she went. But suddenly I heard a noise, and I turned back, being afraid; for I thought that the beast was coming toward me. THE SECOND BOOK OF ST. HERMAS, CALLED HIS COMMANDS. ¶ Introduction. WHEN I had prayed at home, and was sat down upon the bed, a certain man came in to me with a reverend look, in the habit of a shepherd, clothed with a white cloak, having his bag upon his back, and his staff in his hand, and saluted me. 2 I returned his salutation; and immediately he sat down by me, and said unto me, I am sent by that venerable messenger, that I should dwell with thec all the remaining days of thy life. 3 But I thought he was come to try me, and said unto him, Who are you? For I know to whom I am committed. He said unto me, Do you not know me? I answered, No. I am, said he, that shepherd, to whose care you are delivered. 4 Whilst he was yet speaking, his shape was changed; and when I knew that it was he to whom I was committed, I was ashamed, and a sudden fear came upon me, and I was utterly overcome with sadness, because I had spoken so foolishly unto him. 5 But he said unto mc, Be not ashamed, but receive strength in thy mind, through the commands which I am about to deliver unto thee. For, said he, I am sent to show unto thee all those things again, which thou hast seen before; but especially such of them as may be of most use unto thee. 6 And first of all write my Commands and Similitudes; the rest thou shalt so write as I shall show unto thec. But I therefore bid thee first of all write my Commands and Similitudes, that by often reading of them, thou them, Custo- mayest the more casily keep them in mem * Observe dire, possis. Lat. • Adversa re- a cipietis. & Faith. • Irenæus, 1. 1. c. 3.Origen de Princ. I. 1, ory. 7 Whereupon I wrote his Commands and Similitudes, as he bade me. 8 Which things if, when you have heard, ye shall observe to do them, and shall walk according to them, and excrcise yourselves in them, with a pure mind, ye shall receive from the Lord those things which he has promised unto you. 9 But if, having heard them, ye shall not repent, but shall still go on to add to your sins, ye shall be punished by him. of 10 All these things that shepherd, the angel repentance, commanded me to write. с COMMAND I. Of believing in one God. FIRST of all, believe that there is one God, c. 3. Euseb. who created and framed all things of nothing Hist. Eccles.. 1.5,c.8. Atha-into a being. nas. de In carnat. Verb. &c. 2 He comprehends all things, and is only immense, not to be comprehended by any. 3 Who can neither be defined with any words, nor conceived by the mind. 4 Therefore believe in him, and fear him; and fearing him, abstain from all evil. d Habe abstinentiam. concupiscen quitiam. MS. 5 Keep these things, and cast all lust and Omnem iniquity far from thee; and put on righteous-tiam et neness; and thou shalt live to God, if thou shalt Lamb. et Oxkeep this commandment. COMMAND II. That we must avoid detraction; and do our alms-deeds with sim plicity. infant on. f Lat. Have simplicity, and be inno g Gr 'Et d HE said unto me, Be innocent, and with- cent. out disguise; so shalt thou be like an who knows no malice, which destroys the of man. 2 Especially see that thou speak evil none; nor willingly hear any one speak of any. h life μη και σε ακούων χος εση. Parti of MS. evil cati male lo ceps eris pec quentis, cre dens; et tu habebis pec also catum. i och. Hom 3For if thou observest not this, thou who hearcst, shalt be partaker of the sin of Vid. Anthim that speaketh evil by believing the slander, xxix, 'j Demon. and thou also shalt have sin; because thou be-TheGr.hath lievedst him that spake evil of thy brother. ουν. 1 Rather sim cording to 4 Detraction is a pernicious thing; an in-plicity; constant, evil spirit; that never continues in the Gr. readpeace, but is always in discord. refrain thyself from it; and keep peace ever- Greek, In more with thy brother. which there is no evil offence, but all smooth and 5 Put on a holy 'constancy," in which there things are no sins, but all is full of joy; and do good delightful, of thy labours. 6 Give without distinction to all that are in want; not doubting to whom thou givest. 7 But give to all; for God will have us give to all, of all his own gifts. They therefore that receive shall give an account to God, both wherefore they received, and for what w end. och. Hom xcviii. |