Book Three 2 страница

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150.

You then are eager to sit on the right with them, yet your shortcomings are many.

151.

Yet you will be cleansed from your shortcomings;

and all who are not given to doubts shall be cleansed from all their iniquities up till this day. ”

152.

Saying this, she wished to go away.

153.

Yet falling down at her feet,

I begged her by the Lord that she would show me the vision which she had promised to show me.

154.

And then she again took hold of me by the hand, and raised me, and made me sit on the seat to the left; and lifting up a splendid rod, she said to me,

Do you see something great?

155.

And I say, Lady, I see nothing.

153.

She said to me,

Lo! Do you not see opposite to you a great tower, built upon the waters, of splendid square stones?

154.

For the tower was built square by those six young men who had come with her.

155.

Yet myriads of men were carrying stones to it, some dragging them from the depths,

others removing them from the land, and they handed them to these six young men.

156.

They were taking them and building;

157.

and those of the stones that were dragged out of the depths, they placed in the building just as they were:

158.

for they were polished and fitted exactly into the other stones,

and became so united one with another that the lines of juncture could not be perceived.

159.

And in this way the building of the tower looked as if it were made out of one stone.

160.

Those stones, however, which were taken from the earth suffered a different fate;

for the young men rejected some of them,

161.

some they fitted into the building,

and some they cut down, and cast far away from the tower.

162.

Many other stones, however, lay around the tower,

and the young men did not use them in building;

163.

for some of them were rough, others had cracks in them, others had been made too short,

and others were white and round, but did not fit into the building of the tower.

164.

Moreover, I saw other stones thrown far away from the tower, and falling into the public road;

yet they did not remain on the road, but were rolled into a pathless place.

165.

And I saw others falling into the fire and burning, others falling close to the water,

and yet not capable of being rolled into the water,

though they wished to be rolled down, and to enter the water.

SHEPHERD OF HERMAS 1, 3

166.

On revealing to me these visions, she wished to retire.

167.

I said to her, What is the use of my having seen all this, while I do not know what it means?

168.

She said to me,

You are a crafty fellow, wishing to know everything that relates to the tower.

169.

Even so, O Lady, said I, that I may tell it to my brethren,

that, hearing this, they may know the Lord in much glory.

170.

And she said, Many indeed shall hear,

and hearing, some shall be glad, and some shall weep.

171.

Yet even these, if they hear and repent, shall also rejoice.

172.

Hear, then, the parables of the tower;

for I will reveal the parables to you,

173.

and give me no more trouble in regard to revelation:

for these revelations have an end, for they have been completed.

174.

Yet you will not cease praying for revelations, for you are shameless.

175.

The tower which you see building is myself, the Church,

who have appeared to you now and on the former occasion.

176.

Ask, then, whatever you like in regard to the tower,

and I will teach it to you, that you may rejoice with the Saints.

177.

I said unto her,

O Lady, since you have vouchsafed to reveal the teachings to me this once, reveal the esoteric meaning.

178.

She said to me,

Whatsoever ought to be revealed, will be revealed;

179.

only let your heart be with God, and doubt not whatsoever you shall see.

180.

I asked her, Why was the tower built upon the waters, O Lady?

181.

She answered, I told you before, and you still inquire carefully:

182.

therefore inquiring you shall find the truth.

183.

Hear then why the tower is built upon the waters.

184.

It is because your life has been, and will be, saved through water.

185.

For the tower was founder on the word of the almighty and glorious Name

and it is kept together by the invisible power of the Lord.

The Shepherd of Hermas CHAPTER SIX

Divisions 186-220

Visions

SHEPHERD OF HERMAS 1, 3

186.

In reply I said to her,

This is magnificent and marvellous.

187.

Yet who are the six young men who are engaged in building?

188.

And she said,

These are the holy angels of God, who were first created,

189.

and to whom the Lord handed over His whole creation,

that they might increase and build up and rule over the whole creation.

190.

By these willthe building of the tower be finished.

191.

Yet who are the other persons who are engaged in carrying the stones?

192.

These also are holy angels of the Lord, yet the former six are more excellent than these.

193.

The building of the tower will be finished,

and all will rejoice together around the tower,

and they will glorify God, because the tower is finished.

194.

I asked her, saying, Lady, I should like to know what became of the stones,

and what was meant by the various kinds of stones?

195.

In reply she said to me,

Not because you aremore deserving than all others that this revelation should be made to you.

196.

— for there are others before you, and better than you,

to whom these visions should have been revealed—

197.

yet that the name of God may be glorified, has the revelation been made to you,

198.

and it will be made on account of the doubtful

who ponder in their hearts whether these things will be or not.

199.

Tell them that all these things are true, and that none of them is beyond the truth.

200.

All of them are firm and sure, and established on a strong foundation.

201.

Hear now with regard to the stones which are in the building.

202.

Those square white stones which fitted exactly into each other,

are apostles, bishops, teachers, and deacons, who have lived in godly purity,

203.

and have acted as bishops and teachers and deacons chastely and reverently to the elect of God.

204.

Some of them have fallen asleep, and some still remain alive.

205.

And they have always agreed with each other,

and been at peace among themselves, and listened to each other.

206.

On account of this, they join exactly into the building of the tower.

207.

Yet who are the stones that were dragged from the depths,

and which were laid into the building

and fitted in with the rest of the stones previously placed in the tower?

208.

They are those who suffered for the Lord's sake.

209.

Yet I wish to know, O Lady, who are the other stones which were carried from the land.

210.

Those, she said, which go into the building without being polished,

are those whom God has approved of,

211.

for they walked in the straight ways of the Lord and practiced His commandments.

212.

Yet who are those who are in the act of being brought and placed in the building?

213.

They are those who are young in faith and are faithful.

214.

But they are admonished by the angels to do good, for no iniquity has been found in them.

215.

Who then are those whom they rejected and cast away?

216.

These are they who have sinned, and wish to repent.

217.

On this account they have not been thrown far from the tower,

because they will yet be useful in the building, if they repent.

218.

Those then who are to repent, if they do repent, will be strong in faith,

if they now repent while the tower is building.

219.

For if the building be finished, there will not be more room for any one, yet he will be rejected.

220.

This privilege, however, will belong only to him who has now been placed near the tower.

The Shepherd of Hermas CHAPTER SEVEN

Divisions 221-245

Visions

SHEPHERD OF HERMAS 1, 3

221.

As to those who were cut down and thrown far away from the tower,

do you wish to know who they are?

222.

They are the sons of iniquity,

and they believed in hypocrisy, and wickedness did not depart from them.

223.

For this reason they are not saved,

since they cannot be used in the building on account of their iniquities.

224.

Wherefore they have been cut off and cast far away on account of the anger of the Lord,

for they have roused Him to anger.

225.

Yet I shall explain to you the other stones which you saw lying in great numbers,

and not going into the building.

226.

Those which are rough are those who have known the truth and not remained in it,

nor have they been joined to the saints.

227.

On this account are they unfit for use.

228.

Who are those stones that have rents in them?

229.

These are they who are at discord in their hearts one with another,

and are not at peace among themselves:

230.

they indeed keep peace before each other,

yet when they separate one from the other, their wicked thoughts remain in their hearts.

231.

These, then, are the rents which are in the stones.

232.

Yet those which are shortened are those who have indeed believed,

and have the larger share of righteousness;

233.

yet they have also a considerable share of iniquity,

and therefore they are shortened and not whole.

234.

Yet who are these, Lady, that are white and round,

and yet do not fit into the building of the tower?

235.

She answered and said,

How long will you be foolish and stupid,

and continue to put every kind of question and understand nothing?

236.

These are those who have faith indeed, but they have also the riches of this world.

237.

When, therefore, tribulation comes, on account of their riches and business they deny the Lord

238.

I answered and said to her,

When, then, will they be useful for the building, Lady?

239.

When the riches that now seduce them have been circumscribed,

then will they be of use to God.

240.

For as a round stone cannot become square unless portions be cut off and cast away,

so also those who are rich in this world cannot be useful to the Lord unless their riches be [hewn].

241.

Learn this first from your own case.

242.

When you were rich, you were useless;

243.

yet now you are useful and fit for life.

244.

Be useful to God;

245.

for you also will be used as one of these stones.

The Shepherd of Hermas CHAPTER EIGHT

Divisions 246-295

Visions

SHEPHERD OF HERMAS 1, 3

246.

Now the other stones which you saw cast far away from the tower,

and falling upon the public road and rolling from it into pathless places,

are those who have indeed believed, yet through doubt have abandoned the true road.

247.

Thinking, then, that they could find a better way,

they wander and become wretched, and enter upon pathless places.

248.

Yet those which fell into the fire and were burned

are those who have departed for ever from the living God;

249.

nor does the thought of repentance ever come into their hearts,

on account of their devotion to their lusts and to the crimes which they committed.

250.

Do you wish to know who are the others which fell near the waters, but could not be rolled into them?

251.

These are they who have heard the word, and wish to be baptized in the name of the Lord;

252.

yet when the chastity demanded by the truth comes into their recollection,

they draw back, and again walk after their own wicked desires.

253.

She finished her explaination of the tower.

254.

Yet I, shameless as I yet was, asked her,

255.

Is repentance possible

for all those stones which have been cast away and did not fit into the building of the tower,

and will they yet have a place in this tower?

256.

Repentance, said she, is yet possible,

yet in this tower they cannot find a suitable place.

257.

Yet in another and much inferior place they will be laid,

and that, too, only when they have been tortured and completed the days of their sins.

258.

And on this account will they be transferred,

because they have partaken of the righteous Word.

259.

And then only will they be removed from their punishments

when the thought of repenting of the evil deeds which they have done has come into their hearts.

260.

Yet if it does not enter into their hearts,

they will not be saved, on account of the hardness of their heart

261.

When then I ceased asking in regard to all these matters, she said to me,

262.

Do you wish to see anything else?

263.

And as I was extremely eager to see something more, my countenance beamed with joy.

264.

She looked towards me with a smile, and said,

Do you see seven women around the tower?

265.

I do, Lady, said I.

266.

This tower, said she, is supported by them according to the precept of the Lord.

267.

Listen now to their functions.

268.

The first of them, who is clasping her hands, is called Faith.

269.

Through her the elect of God are saved Another,

who has her garments tucked up and acts with vigour,

is called Self-restraint She is the daughter of Faith.

270.

Whoever then follows her will become happy in his life,

because he will restrain himself from all evil works,

271.

believing that, if he restrain himself from all evil desire, he will inherit eternal life.

272.

But the others, said I,

O Lady, who are they?

273.

And she said to me, They are daughters of each other.

274.

One of them is called Simplicity,

another Guilelessness,

275.

another Chastity,

another Intelligence,

another Love.

276.

When then you do all the works of their mother, you will be able to live.

277.

I should like to know, said I, O Lady,

what power each one of them possesses.

278.

Hear, she said, what power they have.

279.

Their powers are regulated by each other, and follow each other in the order of their birth.

280.

For from Faith arises Self-restraint; [in correct order? ]

from Self-restraint, Simplicity;

281.

from Simplicity, Guilelessness;

from Guilelessness, Chastity;

282.

from Chastity, Intelligence;

and from Intelligence, Love.

283.

The deeds, then, of these are pure, and chaste, and divine.

285.

Whoever devotes himself to these, and is able to hold fast by their works,

shall have his dwelling in the tower with the saints of God.

286.

Then I asked her in regard to the ages, if now there is the conclusion.

287.

She cried out with a loud voice,

Foolish man!

288.

Do you not see the tower yet building?

289.

When the tower is finished and built, then comes the end;

and I assure you it will be soon finished.

290.

Ask me no more questions.

291.

Let you and all the saints be content with what I have called to your remembrance,

and with my renewal of your spirits.

292.

Yet observe that it is not for your own sake only that these revelations have been made to you,

yet they have been given you that you may show them to all.

293.

For after three days

— this you will take care to remember—

294.

I command you to speak all the words which I am to say to you into the ears of the saints,

295.

that hearing them and doing them,

they may be cleansed from their iniquities, and you along with them.

The Shepherd of Hermas CHAPTER NINE

Divisions 296-335

Visions

SHEPHERD OF HERMAS 1, 3

296.

Give ear unto me, O Sons:

297.

I have brought you up in much simplicity, and guilelessness, and chastity,

on account of the mercy of the Lord, who has rained His righteousness down upon you,

that you may be made righteous and holy from all your iniquity and depravity;

298.

yet you do not wish to rest from your iniquity.

299.

Now, therefore, listen to me,

and be peaceable with each other,

and visit each other, and lift each other's burdens,

300.

and do not partake goods of God's creatures alone, yet give abundantly of them to the needy.

301.

For some through the abundance of their food produce weakness in their flesh,

and thus corrupt their flesh;

302.

while the flesh of others who have no food is corrupted,

because they have not sufficient nourishment.

303.

And on this account their bodies waste away.

304.

This intemperance in eating is thus injurious to you who have abundance

and do not distribute among those who are needy.

305.

Give heed to the judgment that is to come.

306.

You, therefore, who are high in position,

seek out the hungry as long as the tower is not yet finished;

307.

for after the tower is finished,

you will wish to do good, yet will find no opportunity.

308.

Give heed, therefore, you who glory in your wealth,

lest those who are needy should groan, and their groans should ascend to the Lord,

and you be shut out with all your goods beyond the gate of the tower.

309.

Wherefore I now say to you who preside over the church and love the first seats,

Be not like drug-mixers.

310.

For the drug-mixers carry their drugs in boxes,

yet you carry your drug and [impurities] in your heart.

311.

You are hardened, and do not wish to cleanse your hearts,

312.

and do not wish to add unity of aim to purity of heart, that you may have mercy from the great King.

313.

Take heed, therefore, children, that these dissensions of yours do not deprive you of your life.

314.

How will you instruct the elect of the Lord, if you yourselves have not instruction?

315.

Instruct each other therefore, and be at peace among yourselves,

that I also, standing joyful before your Father, may give an account of you all to your Lord.

316.

On her ceasing to speak to me,

those six young men who were engaged in building came and conveyed her to the tower,

and other four lifted up the seat and carried it also to the tower.

317.

The faces of these last I did not see, for they were turned away from me.

318.

And as she was going,

I asked her to reveal to me the meaning of the three forms in which she appeared to me.

319.

In reply she said to me:

With regard to them, you must ask another to reveal their meaning to you.

320.

For she had appeared to me, Brethren, in the first vision the previous year under the form of an exceedingly old woman, sitting in a chair.

321.

In the second vision her face was youthful, but her skin and hair betokened age,

and she stood while she spoke to me.

322.

She was also more joyful than on the first occasion.

323.

But in the third vision she was entirely youthful and exquisitely beautiful,

except only that she had the hair of an old woman;

but her face beamed with joy, and she sat on a seat.

324.

Now I was exceeding sad in regard to these appearances,

for I longed much to know what the visions meant.

325.

Then I see the old woman in a vision of the night saying unto me:

326.

Every prayer should be accompanied with humility:

fast, therefore, and you will obtain from the Lord what you beg.

327.

I fasted therefore for one day.

328.

That very night there appeared to me a young man, who said,

Why do you frequently ask revelations in prayer?

329.

Take heed lest by asking many things you injure your flesh: be content with these revelations.

330.

Will you be able to see greater revelations than those which you have seen?

331.

I answered and said to him,

Sir, one thing only I ask,

332.

that in regard to these three forms the revelation may be rendered complete.

333.

He answered me,

How long are you senseless?

334.

But your doubts make you senseless,

because you have not your hearts turned towards the Lord.

335.

But I answered and said to him,

From you, sir, we shall learn these things more accurately.

The Shepherd of Hermas CHAPTER TEN

Divisions 336-365

Visions

SHEPHERD OF HERMAS 1, 3

336.

Hear then, said he,

with regard to the three forms, concerning which you are inquiring.

337.

Why in the first vision did she appear to you as an old woman seated on a chair?

338.

Because your spirit is now old and withered up,

339.

and has lost its power in consequence of your infirmities and doubts.

340.

For, like elderly men who have no hope of renewing their strength,

and expect nothing except their last sleep,

341.

so you, weakened by worldly occupations, have given yourselves up to sloth,

and have not cast your cares upon the Lord.

342.

Your spirit therefore is broken, and you have grown old in your sorrows.

343.

I should like then to know, sir, why she sat on a chair?

344.

He answered,

Because every weak person sits on a chair on account of his weakness,

that his weakness may be sustained.

345.

Lo! You have the form of the first vision.

346.

Now in the second vision you saw her standing with a youthful countenance,

and more joyful than before;

still she had the skin and hair of an aged woman.

347.

Hear, said he, this parable also.

348.

When one becomes somewhat old,

he despairs of himself on account of his weakness and poverty,

and looks forward to nothing but the last day of his life.

349.

Then suddenly an inheritance is left him:

and hearing of this, he rises up, and becoming exceeding joyful, he puts on strength.

350.

And now he no longer reclines, but stands up;

and his spirit, already destroyed by his previous actions, is renewed,

and he no longer sits, yet acts with vigour.

351.

So happened it with you on hearing the revelation which God gave you.

352.

For the Lord had compassion on you, and renewed your spirit, and you laid aside your infirmities.

353.

Vigour arose within you, and you grew strong in faith;

and the Lord, seeing your strength, rejoiced.

354.

On this account He showed you the building of the tower;

355.

and He will show you other things, if you continue at peace with each other with all your heart.

356.

Now, in the third vision, you saw her still younger,

and she was noble and joyful, and her shape was beautiful.

357.

For, just as when some good news comes suddenly to one who is sad,

immediately he forgets his former sorrows,

358.

and looks for nothing else than the good news which he has heard,

and for the future is then made strong for good,

359.

and his spirit is renewed on account of the joy which he has received;

360.

so you also have received the renewal of your spirits by seeing these good things.

361.

As to your seeing her sitting on a seat, that means that her position is one of strength,

for a seat has four feet and stands firmly.

362.

For the world also is kept together by means of four elements.

363.

Those, therefore, who repent completely and with the whole heart,

will become young and firmly established.

364.

You now have the revelation completely given you Make no further demands for revelations.

365.

If anything ought to be revealed, it will be revealed to you.

The Shepherd of Hermas CHAPTER ELEVEN

Divisions 366-400

Book One – Visions

SHEPHERD OF HERMAS 1, 4

366.

Vision 4, Concerning the trial and tribulation that are to come upon mankind

367.

Twenty days after the former vision I saw another vision, Brethren —

a representation of the tribulation that is to come.

368.

I was going to a country house along the Campanian road.

369.

Now the house layabout ten furlongs from the public road.

370.

The district is an area that is rarely traversed.

371.

And as I walked alone, I prayed the Lord

to complete the revelations which He had made to me through His holy Church,

that He might strengthen me, and give repentance to all His servants who were going astray,

that His great and glorious name might be glorified because He vouchsafed to show me His marvels.

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