Book Three 10 страница

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but if you had not suffered for the name of the Lord, you would have died to God on account of your sins.

1682.

These things I say to you who are hesitating about denying or confessing:

1683.

acknowledge that you have the Lord, lest, denying Him, you be delivered up to prison.

1684.

If the heathen chastise their slaves, when one of them denies his master,

what, do you think, will your Lord do, who has authority over all men?

1685.

Put away these counsels out of your hearts, that you may live continually unto God.

Chapter 29

1686.

And they who believed from the twelfth mountain, which was white, are the following:

1687.

they are as infant children, in whose hearts no evil originates;

nor did they know what wickedness is, but always remained as children.

1688.

Such accordingly, without doubt, dwell in the kingdom of God,

because they defiled in nothing the commandments of God;

but they remained like children all the days of their life in the same mind.

1689.

All of you, then, who shall remain steadfast, and be as children, without doing evil, Matthew 18: 3

will be more honoured than all who have been previously mentioned;

1690.

for all infants are honourable before God, and are the first persons with Him.

1691.

Blessed, then, are you who put away wickedness from yourselves, and put on innocence.

1692.

As the first of all will you live unto God.

1693.

After he had finished the similitudes of the mountains, I said to him,

1694.

Sir, explain to me now about the stones that were taken out of the plain,

and put into the building instead of the stones that were taken out of the tower;

1695.

and about the round stones that were put into the building; and those that still remain round.

The Shepherd of Hermas CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN

Divisions 1696-1725

Similitude 9

SHEPHERD OF HERMAS 3, 9

Chapter 30

1696.

Hear, he answered, about all these also.

1697.

The stones taken out of the plain and put into the building of the tower instead of those that were rejected, are the roots of this white mountain.

1698.

When, therefore, they who believed from the white mountain were all found guileless,

the Lord of the tower commanded those from the roots of this mountain

to be cast into the building of the tower;

1699.

for he knew that if these stones were to go to the building of the tower,

they would remain bright, and not one of them become black.

1700.

But if he had so resolved with respect to the other mountains,

it would have been necessary for him to visit that tower again, and to cleanse it.

1701.

Now all these persons were found white who believed,

and who will yet believe, for they are of the same race.

1702.

This is a happy race, because it is innocent.

1703.

Hear now, further, about these round and shining stones.

1704.

All these also are from the white mountain.

1705.

Hear, moreover, why they were found round:

1706.

because their riches had obscured and darkened them a little from the truth,

although they never departed from God;

nor did any evil word proceed out of their mouth, yet all justice, virtue, and truth.

1707.

When the Lord God, therefore, saw the mind of these persons,

that they were born good, and could be good, he ordered their riches to be cut down,

1708.

not to be taken away for ever, that they might be able to do some good with what was left them;

1709.

and they will live unto God, because they are of a good race.

1710.

Therefore were they rounded a little by the chisel, and put in the building of the tower.

Chapter 31

1711.

But the other round stones, which had not yet been adapted to the building of the tower,

and had not yet received the seal,

were for this reason put back into their place, because they are exceedingly round.

1712.

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;

1713.

for they must of needs enter into the kingdom of God,

because the Lord has blessed this innocent race.

1714.

Of this race, therefore, no one will perish;

1715.

for although any of them be temptedby the most wicked devil, and commit sin,

he will quickly return to his Lord.

1716.

I deem you happy, I, who am the messenger of repentance, whoever of you are innocent as children, because your part is good, and honourable before God.

1717.

Moreover, I say to you all, who have received the seal of the Son of God,

be clothed with simplicity, and be not mindful of offenses, nor remain in wickedness.

1718.

Lay aside, therefore, the recollection of your offenses and bitternesses,

and you will be formed in one spirit.

1719.

And heal and take away from you those wicked schisms,

that if the Lord of the flocks come, He may rejoice concerning you.

1720.

And He will rejoice, if He find all things sound, and none of you shall perish.

1721.

But if He find any one of these sheep strayed, woe to the shepherds!

1722.

And if the shepherds themselves have strayed,

what answer will they give Him for their flocks?

1723.

Will they perchance say that they were harassed by their flocks?

1724.

They will not be believed, for the thing is incredible that a shepherd could suffer from his flock;

rather will he be punished on account of his falsehood.

1725.

And I myself am a shepherd,

and I am under a most stringent necessity of rendering an account of you.

The Shepherd of Hermas CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT

Divisions 1726-1750

Similitude 9

SHEPHERD OF HERMAS 3, 9

Chapter 32

1726.

Heal yourselves, therefore, while the tower is still building.

1727.

The Lord dwells in men that love peace, because He loved peace;

but from the contentious and the utterly wicked He is far distant.

1728.

Restore to Him, therefore, a spirit sound as you received it.

1729.

For when you have given to a fuller a new garment, and desire to receive it back entire at the end,

1730.

If, then, the fuller return you a torn garment, will you take it from him, and not rather be angry, and abuse him, saying,

1731.

'I gave you a garment that was entire:

1732.

why have you rent it, and made it useless,

so that it can be of no use on account of the rent which you have made in it? '

1733.

Would you not say all this to the fuller about the rent which you found in your garment?

1734.

If, therefore, you grieve about your garment, and complain because you have not received it entire,

1735.

what do you think the Lord will do to you, who gave you a sound spirit,

which you have rendered altogether useless, so that it can be of no service to its possessor?

1736.

For its use began to be unprofitable, seeing it was corrupted by you.

1737.

Will not the Lord, therefore, because of this conduct of yours regarding His Spirit,

act in the same way, and deliver you over to death?

1738.

Assuredly, I say, he will do the same to all those whom He shall find retaining a recollection of offenses.

1739.

Do not trample His mercy under foot, He says,

but rather honour Him, because He is so patient with your sins, and is not as you are.

1740.

Repent, for it is useful to you.

Chapter 33

1741.

All these things which are written above, I, the Shepherd, the messenger of repentance,

have showed and spoken to the servants of God.

1742.

If therefore you believe, and listen to my words, and walk in them, and amend your ways,

you shall have it in your power to live:

but if you remain in wickedness, and in the recollection of offenses,

no sinner of that class will live unto God.

1743.

All these words which I had to say have been spoken unto you.

1744.

The Shepherd said to me, Have you asked me everything?

1745.

And I replied, Yes, sir.

1746.

Why did you not ask me about the shape of the stones that were put into the building,

that I might explain to you why we filled up the shapes?

1747.

And I said, I forgot, sir.

1748.

Hear now, then, he said, about this also.

1749.

These are they who have now heard my commandments, and repented with their whole hearts.

1750.

And when the Lord saw that their repentance was good and pure,

and that they were able to remain in it, He ordered their former sinsto be blotted out,

for these shapes were their sins, and they were levelled down, that they might not appear.

The Shepherd of Hermas CHAPTER FIFTY NINE

Divisions 1751-1770

Similitude 10

SHEPHERD OF HERMAS 3, 10

1751.

Concerning repentance and alms-giving

Chapter 1

1752.

After I had fully written down this book, that messenger who had delivered me to the Shepherd came into the house in which I was, and sat down upon a couch, and the Shepherd stood on his right hand.

1753.

He then called me, and spoke to me as follows:

I have delivered you and your house to the Shepherd, that you may be protected by him.

1754.

Yes, sir, I said.

1755.

If you wish, therefore, to be protected, he said, from all annoyance, and from all harsh treatment,

and to have success in every good work and word, and to possess all the virtues of righteousness,

walk in these commandments which he has given you, and you will be able to subdue all wickedness.

1756.

For if you keep those commandments, every desire and pleasure of the world will be subject to you,

and success will attend you in every good work.

1757.

Take unto yourself his experience and moderation, and say to all that he is in great honourand dignity with God, and that he is a president with great power, and mighty in his office.

1758.

To him alone throughout the whole world is the power of repentance assigned.

1759.

Does he seem to you to be powerful?

1760.

But you despise his experience, and the moderation which he exercises towards you.

Chapter 2

1761.

I said to him,

Ask himself, sir, whether from the time that he has entered my house I have done anything improper, or have offended him in any respect.

1762.

He answered, I also know that you neither have done nor will do anything improper,

and therefore I speak these words to you, that you may persevere.

1763.

For he had a goodreport of you to me, and you will say these words to others,

that they also who have either repented or will still repent may entertain the same feelings with you,

and he may report well of these to me, and I to the Lord.

1764.

And I said, Sir, I make known to every man the great works of God:

and I hope that all those who love them, and have sinned before, on hearing these words,

may repent, and receive life again.

1765.

Continue, therefore, in this ministry, and finish it.

1766.

And all who follow out his commands shall have life, and great honour with the Lord.

1767.

But those who do not keep his commandments, flee from his life, and despise him.

1768.

But he has his own honour with the Lord.

1769.

All, therefore, who shall despise him, and not follow his commands, deliver themselves to death,

and every one of them will be guilty of his own blood.

1770.

Yet I enjoin you, that you obey his commands,

and you will have a cure for your former sins.

The Shepherd of Hermas CHAPTER SIXTY

Divisions 1771-1800

Similitude 10

SHEPHERD OF HERMAS 3, 10

Chapter 3

1771.

Moreover, I sent you these virgins, that they may dwell with you.

1772.

For I saw that they were courteous to you.

1773.

You will therefore have them as assistants, that you may be the better able to keep his commands:

for it is impossible that these commandments can be observed without these virgins.

1774.

I see, moreover, that they abide with you willingly;

but I will also instruct them not to depart at all from your house:

1775.

do you only keep your house pure, as they will delight to dwell in a pure abode.

1776.

For they are pure, and chaste, and industrious, and have all influence with the Lord.

1777.

Therefore, if they find your house to be pure, they will remain with you;

1778.

but if any defilement, even a little, befall it, they will immediately withdraw from your house

1779.

For these virgins do not at all like any defilement.

1780.

I said to him, I hope, sir, that I will please them,

so that they may always be willing to inhabit my house

1781.

And as he to whom you entrusted me has no complaint against me, so neither will they have.

1782.

He said to the Shepherd,

I see that the servant of God wishes to live, and to keep these commandments,

and will place these virgins in a pure habitation.

1783.

When he had spoken these words he again delivered me to the Shepherd,

and called those virgins, and said to them,

1784.

Since I see that you are willing to dwell in his house,

I commend him and his house to you, asking that you withdraw not at all from it.

1785.

And the virgins heard these words with pleasure.

Chapter 4

1786.

The angel then said to me,

Conduct yourself manfully in this service,

and make known to every one the great things of God, and you will have favour in this ministry.

1787.

Whoever, therefore, shall walk in these commandments, shall have life, and will be happy in his life;

1788.

yet whosoever shall neglect them shall not have life, and will be unhappy in this life.

1789.

Enjoin all, who are able to act rightly, not to cease well-doing;

for, to practice good works is useful to them.

1790.

And I say that every man ought to be saved from inconveniences.

1791.

For both he who is in want, and he who suffers inconveniences in his daily life, is in great torture and necessity.

1792.

Whoever, therefore, rescues a soul of this kind from necessity, will gain for himself great joy.

1793.

For he who is harassed by inconveniences of this kind,

suffers equal torture with him who is in chains.

1794.

Moreover many, on account of calamities of this sort,

when they could not endure them, hasten their own deaths.

1795.

Whoever, then, knows a calamity of this kind afflicting a man, and does not save him, commits a great sin, and becomes guilty of his blood.

1796.

Do good works, therefore, you who have received good from the Lord;

lest, while you delay to do them, the building of the tower be finished,

and you be rejected from the edifice:

1797.

There is now no other tower a-building,

for on your account was the work of building suspended.

1798.

Unless, then, you make haste to do rightly, the tower will be completed, and you will be excluded.

1799.

After he had spoken with me he rose up from the couch,

and taking the Shepherd and the virgins, he departed.

1800.

Yet he said to me that he would send back the Shepherd and the virgins to my dwelling.

Amen

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