it that they should be the first People and Heirs of the Covenant If therefore God shall have yet farther taken Notice of this by Abraham too Our Understanding of it will then be perfectly established What then saith the Scripture to Abraham when he believed and it was imputed unto him for Righteousness Behold I have made thee a Father of the Nations which without Circumcision believe in the LORD XIV LET us therefore now enquire whether God has fulfilled the Covenant which he sware to our Fathers that he would give this People Yes verily He gave it But they were not worthy to receive it by reason of their Sins For thus saith the Prophet And Moses continued fasting in Mount Sinai to receive the Covenant of the LORD with the People forty Days and forty Nights And he received of the LORD two Tables written with the Finger of the LORD'S Hand in the Spirit And Moses when he had received them brought them down that he might deliver them to the People And the LORD said unto Moses Moses Moses get thee down quickly for the People which thou broughtest out of the Land of Egypt have done Wickedly And Moses understeod that they had again set up a Molten Image and he cast the two Tables out of his Hands and the Tables of the Covenant of the LORD were broken Moses therefore received them but they were not worthy Now then learn how we have received them Moses being a Servant took them but the LORD himself has given them unto us that we might be the People of his Inheritance having suffered all things for us And it was therefore made manifest that they should fill up the Measure of their Sins and that we being made Heirs by him should receive the Covenant of the LORD Jesus And again the Prophet saith Behold I have set thee for a Light unto the Gentiles to be the Saviour of all the Ends of the Earth saith the LORD the God who hath redeemed thee Who for that very End was prepared that by his Own appearing he might redeem our Hearts already devoured by Death and delivered over to the Irregularity of Error from Darkness and establish a Covenant with us by his Word For so it is written that the Father commanded him by delivering of us from Darkness to prepare unto himself a Holy People Wherefore the Prophet saith I the LORD thy God have called thee in Righteousness and I will take thee by the Hand and will strenghthen thee And give thee for a Covenant of the People for a Light of the Gentiles To open the Eyes of the Blind to bring out the Prisoners from the Prison and them that sit in Darkness out of the Prison-House Consider therefore from whence we have been redeemed And again the Prophet saith The Spirit of the LORD is upon me because he hath anointed me he hath sent me to preach glad Tidings to the Lowly to heal the broken in Heart to preach Remission to the Captives and sight unto the Blind To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD and the Day of Restitution to comfort all that mourn XV. FURTHERMORE it is written concerning the Sabbath in the Ten Commandments which God spake in the Mount Sinai to Moses Face to Face Sanctifie the Sabbath of the LORD with pure Hands and with a clean Heart And elsewhere he saith If thy Children shall keep my Sabbaths then will I put my Mercy upon them And even in the beginning of the Creation he makes mention of the Sabbath And God made in six Days the Works of his Hands and he finished them on the seventh Day and he rested the seventh day and sanctified it Consider my Children what that signifies he finish'd them in six Days The meaning of it is this that in six thousand years the LORD God will bring all things to an End For with him One Day is a Thousand Years as himself testifieth saying Behold this day shall be as a thousand years Therefore Children in six Days that is in six thousand years shall All things be accomplished And rested the Seventh Day He meaneth this that when his Son shall come and abolish the Season of the Wicked One and jugde the Ungodly and shall change the Sun and the Moon and the Stars then he shall gloriously rest in that seventh Day He adds lastly Thou shalt sanctifie it with clean Hands and a pure Heart Wherefore we are greatly deceived if we imagin that any one can now sanctifie that Day which God has made Holy without having a Heart pure in all things He will therefore then truly sanctifie it with blessed Rest when we having received the righteous Promise when Iniquity shall be no more all things being renewed by the LORD shall be able to sanctifie it being our selves first made Holy Lastly he saith unto them Your New Moons and your Sabbaths I cannot bear them Consider what he means by it The Sabbaths says he which ye now keep are not acceptable unto me but those which I have made when resting from all things I shall begin the Eighth Day that is the Beginning of the other World For which cause we observe the Eighth Day with Gladness in which Jesus both rose from the dead and manifested himself to his Disciples and so ascended into Heaven XVI IT remains yet that we speak to you concerning the Temple How those miserable Men being deceived have put their trust in the House and not in God himself who made them as if it were the Habitation of God Much after the same manner as the Gentiles have consecrated him in their Temples But learn therefore how the LORD speaketh rendring the Temple vain Who has measured the Heaven with a Span and the Earth with his Hand Is it not I Thus saith the LORD Heaven is my Throne and the Earth is my Footstool What is the House that ye will build me Or what is the place of my Rest Know therefore that all their Hope is vain And again he speaketh after this manner Behold they that destroy this Temple even they shall build another And so it came to pass For through their Wars it is now destroy'd by their Enemies and the Servants of their Enemies build it up Farthermore it has been made manifest how both the City and the Temple and the People of Israel should be given up For the Scripture saith And it shall come to pass in the last days that the LORD will deliver up the Sheep of his Pasture and their Fold and their Tower unto Destruction And it has come to pass as the LORD hath spoken Let us enquire therefore whether there be any Temple of God Yes there is And that there where himself declares that he would both make and establish it For it is written And it shall be that as soon as the Week shall be compleated the
For they went down Alive into the Grave Death swallowed them up Pharaoh and his Host and all the Rulers of Egypt their Chariots also and their Horse-men were for no other cause drowned in the bottom of the Red Sea and Perish'd but because they hardened their foolish Hearts after so many Signs done in the Land of Egypt by Moses the Servant of God LII BELOVED God is not Indigent of any thing nor does he demand any thing of Us but that we should Confess our Sins unto Him For so says the Holy David I will Confess unto the LORD and it shall please him better than a Bullock that hath Horns and Hoofs Let the Poor see it and be Glad And again he saith Offer unto God the Sacrifice of Praise and pay thy Vows unto the most Highest And call upon Me in the day of Trouble and I will deliver Thee and thou shalt Glorifie me The Sacrifice of God is a Broken Spirit LIII YE know Beloved ye know full-well the Holy Scriptures and have thoroughly search'd into the Oracles of God Call them therefore to your Remembrance For when Moses went up into the Mount and tarried there Forty Days and Forty Nights in Fasting and Humility God said unto Him Get thee down quickly from Hence For thy People whom thou broughtest out of the Land of Egypt has committed Wickedness They have soon transgressed the way that I commanded Them and have made to themselves Graven Images And the LORD said unto Him I have spoken unto Thee several times saying I have seen this People and behold it is a stiff-necked People Let me therefore Destroy them and put out their Name from under Heaven And I will make unto thee a Great and a Wonderful Nation that shall be much larger than this But Moses said Not so LORD Forgive now this People their Sin Or if thou wilt not Blot me also out of the Book of the Living O admirable Charity O insuperable Perfection The Servant speaks freely to his Lord He beseeches him either to forgive the People or to destroy Him together with them LIV. WHO is there among you that is Generous Who that is Compassionate Who that has any Charity Let him say If this Sedition this Contention these Schisms are upon my Account I am ready to depart to go away whithersoever ye please and do whatsoever ye shall desire of me only let the Flock of Christ be in Peace with the Priests that are set over it He that shall do this shall get to himself a very great Honour in the LORD and there is no place but what will be ready to receive him For the Earth is the LORD'S and the Fullness thereof These things they who have their Conversation towards God not to be repented of both have done and will always be ready to do LV. NAY and even the Gentiles themselves have given us Examples of this kind For we read How many Kings and Princes in times of Pestilence being warned by their Oracles have given up Themselves unto Death that by their own Bloud they might deliver their Country-men from Destruction Others have forsaken their Cities that so they might put an End to the Seditions of them We know how many among our selves have given up themselves unto Bonds that thereby they might free others from them Others have hired out themselves to the most Servile Employments that with the Wages of them they might feed their Brethen And even Women themselves being strengthned by the Grace of God have done many Glorious and Manly things on such Occasions The Blessed Judith when her City was besieged desired the Elders that they would suffer her to go into the Camp of their Enemies And she went out exposing her self to Danger for the Love she bare to her Country and her People that were Besieged and the Lord delivered Holofernes into the Hands of a Woman Nor did Esther being perfect in Faith expose her self to any less Hazard for the Delivery of the Twelve Tribes of Israel in danger of being destroyed For by Fasting and Humbling Her self she intreated the Great Maker of All things the God of Ages So that beholding the Humility of her Soul He delivered the People for whose sake she was in Peril LVI WHEREFORE let us also pray for all such as fall into any Trouble or Distress That being endued with Humility and Moderaration they may submit not unto Us but to the Will of God For by this means they shall obtain a Fruitful and Perfect Remembrance with Mercy both at the Hands of God and of his Saints Let us receive Correction at which no Man ought to repine Beloved the Reproof and the Correction which we exercise towards one another is good and exceeding Profitable For it unites us the more closely to the Will of God For so says the Holy Scripture The LORD corrected me but he did not deliver me over unto Death For whom the LORD loveth he Chastneth and scourgeth every Son whom he receiveth The Righteous saith He shall instruct me in Mercy and reprove me but the Oyl of Sinners shall not make fat my Head And again he saith Happy is the Man whom God correcteth therefore despise not thou the Chastning of the Almighty For he maketh sore and bindeth up He woundeth and his hands make whole He shall deliver thee in six Troubles Yea in seven there shall no Evil touch Thee In Famine he shall redeem thee from Death and in War from the Power of the Sword Thou shalt be hid from the Scourge of the Tongue neither shalt thou be afraid of Destruction when it cometh Thou shalt laugh at the Wicked and Sinners neither shalt thou be afraid of the Beasts of the Earth The wild Beasts shall be at peace with thee Then shalt thou know that thy House shall be in peace and the Habitation of thy Tabernacle shall not err Thou shalt know also that thy Seed shall be great and thy Off-spring as the Grass of the Earth Thou shalt come to thy Grave as the ripe Corn that is taken in due time like as a Shock of Corn cometh in in his Season Ye see Beloved how there shall be a Defence to those that are corrected of the Lord. For being a good Instructor he is willing to Admonish us by his Holy Discipline LVII DO YE therefore who laid the first Foundation of this Sedition submit your selves to your Priests and be Instructed unto Repentance bending the Knees of your Hearts Learn to be subject laying aside all proud and arrogant Boasting of your Tongues For it is better for you to be found little and of good Reputation in the Sheepfold of Christ than to seem to your selves better than others and be cast out of his Fold For thus speaks the excellent and all-vertuous Wisdom Behold I will pour out the word of my Spirit upon
Men unto Thee to Spy out the Land bring them forth for so hath the King Commanded She answered The two Men whom ye seek came unto Me but presently they departed and are gone Shewing them withall a Contrary way Then she said to the Spies I know that the LORD your God has given this City into your hands for the fear of you is fallen upon All that dwell therein When therefore ye shall have taken it ye shall save Me and my Fathers House And they answered her saying It shall be as Thou hast spoken unto Vs. Therefore when Thou shalt know that we are near thou shalt Gather all thy Family together upon the House top and they shall be saved But all that shall be found without thy House shall be destroyed And they gave her moreover a Sign that she should Hang out of her House a Scarlet Rope Shewing thereby that by the Blood of our Lord there should be Redemption to all that Believe and Hope in God Ye see Beloved How there was not only Faith but Prophesie too in this Woman XIII LET us therefore Humble our selves Brethren laying aside all Pride and Boasting and Foolishness and Anger And let us do as it is written for thus saith the Holy Spirit Let not the Wise Man Glory in his Wisdom nor the Strong Man in his Strength nor the Rich Man in his Riches But let him that Glorieth Glory in the LORD to seek Him and to do Judgment and Justice Above All remembring the words of the Lord Jesus which he spake concerning Equity and Long-suffering saying Be ye Merciful and ye shall obtain Mercy Forgive and ye shall be Forgiven As ye do so shall it be done unto you As ye give so shall it be given unto you As ye judge so shall ye be judged As ye are kind to Others so shall God be kind to you With what Measure ye Meet with the same shall it be measured to you Again By this Command and by these Rules let us establish our selves that so we may always walk obediently to his Holy Words being humble minded For so says the Holy Scripture Vpon Whom shall I look even upon him that is poor and of a Contrite Spirit and that trembles at my Word XIV IT is therefore Just and Righteous Men and Brethren that we should become Obedient unto God rather than follow such as through Pride and Disorder have made themselves the Ring-leaders of a detestable Emulation For it is not an Ordinary Harm that we shall do our selves but rather a very great Danger that we shall run if we shall rashly give up our selves to the Wills of Men who promote Strife and Seditions to turn us aside from what is fitting But let us be kind to One Another according to the Compassion and Sweetness of him that made us For it is written The Merciful shall inherit the Earth and they that are without Evil shall be left upon it But the Transgressors shall perish from off the face of it And again He saith I have seen the Wicked in great Power and spreading himself like the Cedars of Libanus I passed by and Lo he was not I sought his place but it could not be found Keep Innocency and do the thing that is right for there shall be a Remnant to the Peaceable Man XV. LET us therefore hold fast to Those who religiously follow Peace and not to such as only pretend to desire it For He saith in a certain place This People honoureth me with their lips but their heart is far from me And again They Bless with their Mouth but Curse in their Heart And again He saith They loved him with their Mouth and with their Tongue they lied to Him For their heart was not right with Him neither were they faithful in his Covenant The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips And the tongue that speaketh proud things Who have said with our tongue will we prevail Our lips are our own who is LORD over us For the Oppression of the Poor for the Sighing of the Needy now will I arise saith the LORD I will set him in safety I will deal confidently with him XVI FOR Christ is theirs who are Humble and not who exalt themselves over his Flock The Scepter of the Majesty of God our Lord Jesus Christ came not in the shew of Pride and Arrogance tho' he could have done so But with Humility as the Holy Ghost had before spoken concerning him For thus he saith LORD who hath believed our Report and to whom is the Arm of the LORD revealed For He shall grow up before him as a tender Plant and as a root out of a dry Ground He hath no Form nor Comeliness and when we shall see Him there is no Beauty that we should desire Him He is despised and rejected of Men A man of Sorrows and acquainted with Grief And we hid as it were our faces from Him He was despised and we esteemed Him not Surely He hath borne our Griefs and carried our Sorrows yet we did Esteem him stricken smitten of God and afflicted But he was wounded for our Transgressions He was bruised for our Iniquities The Chastisement of our Peace was upon Him and with his Stripes we are healed All we like sheep have gone astray we have turned every One to his own way and the LORD hath laid on Him the Iniquity of Vs all He was Oppressed and he was Afflicted yet he Opened not his mouth He is brought as a Lamb to the Slaughter and as a Sheep before her Shearers is Dumb so He openeth not his Mouth He was taken from Prison and from Judgment And who shall declare his Generation For he was cut off out of the Land of the Living For the Transgression of my People was he stricken And he made his Grave with the Wicked and with the Rich in his Death because he had done no Violence neither was any deceit in his Mouth Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him he hath put him to grief When thou shalt make his Soul an Offering for sin He shall see his Seed he shall prolong his days And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand He shall see of the travail of his Soul and shall be satisfied by his Knowledge shall my righteous Servant justifie many For He shall bear their Iniquities Therefore will I divide him a portion with the Great and he shall divide the Spoil with the Strong because He hath poured out his Soul unto death And he was numbred with the Transgressors and he bare the sin of many and made Intercession for the Transgressors And again he Himself saith I am a Worm and no Man a reproach of men and despised of the People All they that see me laugh me to scorn they shout out their lips they shake their head
Tongues be made manifest by their Silence Let their Charity be without respect of Persons alike towards all such as truly fear God Let your Children be bred up in the Instruction of the Lord And especially let them learn how great a Power Humility has with God How much a Pure and Holy Charity avails with Him How Excellent and Great his Fear is and how it will save all such as turn to Him with Holiness in a Pure Mind For He is the Searcher of the Thoughts and Desires of the Heart whose Breath is in Us and when He pleases he can take it from Us. XXII BUT all these things must be confirm'd by the Faith which is in Christ for so He himself bespeaks us by the Holy Ghost Come ye Children and harken unto me and I will teach you the fear of the LORD What man is there that desireth Life and loveth to see Good days Keep thy Tongue from Evil and thy Lips that they speak no Guile Depart from Evil and do Good seek Peace and ensue it The Eyes of the LORD are upon the Righteous and his Ears are open unto their Prayers But the face of the LORD is against them that do Evil to cut off the Remembrance of them from the Earth The Righteous cried and the LORD heard Him and deliver'd him out of all his Troubles Many are the Troubles of the Wicked But they that trust in the LORD Mercy shall encompass them About XXIII OUR All-Merciful and Beneficent Father hath Bowels of Compassion towards Them that fear Him And Kindly and Lovingly bestows his Graces upon all such as come to Him with a simple Mind Wherefore let us not waver neither let us have any doubt in our Hearts of his Excellent and Glorious Gifts Let that be far from us which is written Miserable are the double-minded and those who are doubtful in their Hearts Who say These things have we heard and our Fathers have told us these things But behold we are grown old and none of them has happened unto Vs. O ye Fools Consider the Trees take the Vine for an Example First it sheds its Leaves then it Buds after that it spreads its Leaves then it flowers then come the sower Grapes and after them follows the Ripe Fruit. Ye see how in a little time the Fruit of the Trees comes to Maturity Of a truth yet a little while and his Will shall suddainly be accomplish'd The Holy Scripture it self bearing witness That the LORD shall suddainly come to his Temple even the Holy one whom ye look for XXIV LET us consider Beloved how the LORD does continually shew Us that there shall be a future Resurrection of which he has made our Lord Jesus Christ the First-fruits raising him from the Dead Let us contemplate Beloved the Resurrection that is continually made before our Eyes Day and Night manifest a Resurrection to Us. The night lies down and the day arises Again the day departs and the night comes on Let us behold the Fruits of the Earth Every one sees how the Seed is sown The Sower goes forth and casts it upon the Earth and the Seed which when it was sown fell upon the Earth dry and naked in time dissolves And from the Dissolution the great Power of the Providence of the Lord raises it again and of one Seed many arise and bring forth Fruit. XXV LET us consider that wonderful Type of the Resurrection which is seen in the Eastern Countries that is to say in Arabia There is a certain Bird called a Phaenix Of this there is never but one at a time and that lives five hundred Years And when the time of its Dissolution draws near that it must Die it makes it self a Nest of Frankincense and Myrrhe and other Spices into which when its time is fulfilled it enters and dies But its Flesh putrifying breeds a certain Worm which being nourished with the Juice of the dead Bird brings â—orth Feathers and when it is grown to a perfect State it takes up the Nest in which the Bones of its Parent lie and carries it from Arabia into Egypt to a City called Heliopolis And flying in open day in the sight of all Men lays it upon the Altar of the Sun and so returns from whence it came The Priests then search into the Records of the Time and find that it return'd precisely at the end of five hundred Years XXVI AND shall we then think it to be any very great and strange thing for the Lord of all to raise up those that religiously serve him in the Assurance of a good Faith when even by a Bird he shews us the greatness of his power to fulfil his Promise For he says in a certain place Thou shalt raise me up and I shall confess unto Thee And again I laid me down and slept and awaked because thou art with me And again Job says Thou shalt raise up this flesh of mine that has suffered all these things XXVII HAVING therefore this Hope let us hold fast to him who is Faithful in all his Promises and Righteous in all his Judgments Who has commanded us not to Lye how much more shall he not Himself Lye For nothing is impossible with God but to Lye Let his Faith then be stirred up again in us and let us consider that all things are nigh unto Him By the Word of his Power He made all things and by the same Word he is able when ever he will to destroy them Who shall say unto Him what dost Thou Or who shall resist the Power of his Strength When and As he pleased he made All things and nothing shall pass away of all that has been appointed by Him All things are Open before him nor can any thing be hid from his Counsell The Heavens declare the Glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy work Day unto Day uttereth Speech and Night unto Night sheweth Knowledge There is no Speech nor Language where their Voice is not heard XXVIII SEEING then all things are seen and heard by God let us fear him and let us lay aside our Corrupt Desires of Wicked Works that through his Mercy we may be delivered from the Condemnation to come For whither can any of us flee from his mighty Hand Or what World shall receive any of those who run away from him For thus saith the Scripture in a certain place Whither shall I flee from thy Spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence If I ascend up into Heaven thou art there If I shall go to the utmost parts of the Earth there is thy right hand If I shall make my Bed in the deep thy Spirit is there Whither then shall any one go or whither shall he run from him that comprehends all things XXIX LET us therefore come to him with Holiness of Heart
you I will make known my Speech unto you Because I called and ye would not hear I stretched out my words and ye regarded not But ye have set at nought all my Counsel and would none of my reproof I will also laugh at your Calamity and mock when your fear cometh When your Fear cometh as Desolation and your Destruction as a Whirlwind when Distress and Anguish cometh upon you Then shall ye call upon me but I will not hear you The Wicked shall seek me but they shall not find me For that they hated Knowledge and did not seek the Fear of the Lord. They would not hearken unto my Counsel They despised all my Reproof Therefore shall they eat of the Fruit of their own ways and be filled with their own Wickedness LVIII NOW God the Inspector of all things the Father of Spirits and the Lord of all Flesh who hath chosen our Lord Jesus Christ and Us by Him to be his Peculiar People grant to every Soul of Man that calleth upon his Glorious and Holy Name Faith Fear Peace Long-suffering Patience Temperance Holiness and Wisdom unto all well-pleasing in his sight through our High Priest and Protector Jesus Christ by whom be Glory and Majesty and Honour unto Him now and for Ever more Amen LIX THE Messengers whom we have sent unto you Claudius and Ephebus and Valerius and Bito with Fortunatus send back to us again with all speed in Peace and with Joy that they may the sooner acquaint us with your Peace and Concord so much pray'd for and desired by Us And that we may rejoyce in your good Order LX. THE Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you and with all others that are any where called by God and through Him To whom be Honour and Glory and Might and Majesty and Dominion by Christ Jesus from Everlasting to Everlasting Amen THE EPISTLE OF St. POLYCARP TO THE Philippians THE CONTENTS After the Salutation 1. HE Commends the Philippians for their Respect to Those who suffer'd for the Gospel and for their own Faith and Piety Numb I. 2. He exhorts Them to continue in Both And that particularly from the Consideration of the Resurrection and Judgment to come N. II. For their better accomplishing whereof He 3. Advises them to call to mind the Doctrine which St. Paul had taught them whilst He was in Person among them and after wrote to them in his Epistle N. III. The Summ of all which he now goes on particularly to set before Them I. As to Practical Duties 1. Faith Hope Charity N. III. 2. Against Covetousness N. IV. 3. The Duties of Husbands Wives Widows Ib. 4. Of Deacons Young Men Virgins N. V. 5. Of Presbyters N. VI. All which He again Inforces with the Consideration of that Account we must one day give to God of all our Actions II. As to Matters of Faith 1. What we are to Believe concerning our Saviour Christ His Nature and Sufferings N. VII 2. Of the Future Resurrection and Judgment Ib. Which being thus set forth He finally Exhorts them 1. To Prayer N. VII 2. To Stedfastness in their Faith N. VIII Inforced from the Examples of the Patience and Constancy Of Our Saviour Christ. Ib. Of his Apostles and Saints N. IX 3. To Carefulness in all Well-doing N. X. And more particularly yet from the Miscarriage of Valens who had been a Presbyter among Them He Exhorts them 4. To beware of Covetousness N. XI 5. Not to be too severe towards such Persons either in their Censures of them or Behaviour towards them N. XII He Prays for them and then Exhorts them 6. To Pray for All others Ib. And having thus done with what was Instructive of his Epistle He advises Them of his sending Ignatius's Epistles to them N. XIII And desires an Account of Him from Them N. XIV And lastly He recommends Crescens by whom he wrote this Epistle together with his Sister to their Favour and Assistance Ib. THE EPISTLE OF St. POLYCARP TO THE Philippians POLYCARP and the PRESBYTERS that are with Him to the Church of God which is at PHILIPPI Mercy unto you and Peace from God Almighty and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour be multiplied I. I REJOYCED greatly with you in our Lord Jesus Christ that ye received the Images of a true Love and accompanied as it behoved you those who were in Bonds becoming Saints which are the Crowns of such as are truly chosen by God and our Lord As also that the Root of the Faith which was preach'd from antient times remains firm in you to this day and brings forth Fruit to our Lord Jesus Christ who suffer'd himself to be brought even to the Death for our Sins Whom God hath raised up having loosed the Pains of Death Whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of Glory Into which many desire to enter Knowing that by Grace ye are saved not by Works but by the Will of God through Jesus Christ. II. WHEREFORE girding up the Loyns of your Mind Serve the Lord with Fear and in Truth Laying aside all empty and vain Speech and the Error of many Believing in him that raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the Dead and hath given him Glory and a Throne at his right Hand To whom all things are made Subject Both that are in Heaven and that are in Earth whom every Creature shall worship who shall come to be the Judge of the Quick and Dead Whose Bloud God shall require of them that believe not in him but are disobedient to him But he that raised up Christ from the Dead shall also raise up us in like manner if we do his Will and walk according to his Commandments and love that which he hath loved Abstaining from all Vnrighteousness inordinate Affection and love of Money from Evil-speaking False Witness not rendring Evil for Evil or Railing for Railing or Striking for Striking or Cursing for Cursing But remembring what the Lord has taught us saying Judge not and ye shall not be judged Forgive and ye shall be forgiven Be ye merciful and ye shall obtain Mercy For with the same measure that ye meet withall it shall be measured to you again And again that Blessed are the Poor and they that are persecuted for Righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of God III. THESE things my Brethren I took not the Liberty of my self to write unto you concerning Righteousness but you your selves before encouraged me to it For neither can I nor any other such as I am come up to the Wisdom of the Blessed and Renowned Paul who being himself in Person with those who then lived did with all Exactness and Soundness teach the Word of Truth and being gone from you wrote an Epistle to you Into which if you look you
therefore become them to Guard themselves against such Persons VIII To this end He Exhorts them to follow their Bishop and Pastors But especially their Bishop IX He thanks them for their Kindness to Himself X. And to those that were with Him which God will reward XI He acquaints them with the Ceasing of the Persecution at Antioch And exhorts them to send a Messenger unto them to congratulate with them on this Occasion XII He concludes with his own Salutation and the Remembrances of those that were with Him to them all in General and to several in Particular THE EPISTLE OF St. IGNATIVS TO THE Smyrneans IGNATIUS who is also called THEOPHORUS to the Church of God the Father and of the Beloved Jesus Christ which God hath Blessed with every Good Gift being filled with Faith and Charity so that it is wanting in no Gift To the most Worthy of God and Fruitful in Saints the Church which is at SMYRNA in Asia All Joy through his Immaculate Spirit and through the Word of God I. I GLORIFIE God even Jesus Christ who has thus filled you with all Wisdom For I have understood how that you are settled in an Immoveable Faith as if you were Nailed to the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ both in the Flesh and in the Spirit and are confirm'd in Love through the Bloud of Christ being fully perswaded of those things which relate unto our LORD Who truly was of the Race of David according to the Flesh but the Son of God according to the Will and Power of God Truly Born of the Virgin and Baptized of John that so all Righteousness might be fulfilled by him He was also truly Crucified by Pontius Pilate and Herod the Tetrarch for us in the Flesh by the Fruits of which we are saved even by his most Blessed Passion that he might set up a sure Token and Earnest of Hope for all following Ages through his Resurrection to all his Holy and Faithful Servants whether they be Jews or Gentiles in one Body of his Church II. NOW all these things he suffer'd for us that we might be saved And he suffer'd truly as He also truly Raised up himself And not as some Unbelievers say that he only seemed to suffer they themselves only seeming to be And as they Believe so shall it happen unto them when they shall become Spiritual and Incorporeal III. BUT I know that even after his Resurrection he was in the Flesh and I believe that he was so And when he came to those who were with Peter he said unto them Take Handle me and see that I am not an Incorporeal Daemon And straightway they felt Him and Believed being convinced both by his Flesh and Spirit For this cause they despised Death and were found to be above it But after his Resurrection he did Eat and Drink with them as he was Flesh although as to his Spirit he was united to the Father IV. NOW these things Beloved I put you in mind of not questioning but that you your selves also believe that they are so But I arm you before-hand against certain Beasts in the shape of Men whom you must not only not receive but if it be possible must not meet with Only you must pray for them that if it be the Will of God they may repent which yet will be very hard But of this our Lord Jesus Christ has the Power who is our true Life For if all these things were done only in shew by our LORD then do I also only seem to be Bound And why have I given up my self to Death to the Fire to the Sword to Wild Beasts But now the nearer I am to the Sword the nearer am I to God What is between me and the Beasts is between me and God Only in the Name of Jesus Christ who was a Perfect Man and by his Assistance am I ready to suffer All things together with Him V. WHOM some not knowing do deny or rather have been denied by him being the Advocates of Death rather than of the Truth Whom neither the Prophecies nor the Law of Moses have perswaded nor the Gospel it self even to this day nor all our Sufferings For they think also the same things of us For what does a Man profit me if he shall Praise me and Blaspheme my LORD not confessing that he was truly made Man Now he that says this does in effect deny him and is in Death But for the Names of such as do this they being Unbelievers I thought it not fitting to write them unto you Nay God forbid that I should make any mention of them till they shall repent to a true Belief of Christ's Passion which is our Resurrection VI. LET no Man deceive himself Both the things which are in Heaven and the Glory of Angels and Principalities whether Visible or Invisible if they believe not in the Bloud of Christ it shall be to them to Condemnation He that is able to receive this Let him receive it Let no Man's Place or State in the World puff him up That which is worth All is Faith and Charity to which nothing is to be preferred But then consider those who defend a different Opinion from us as to what concerns the Grace of God which is come unto us how contrary they are to the Mind of God They have no regard to Charity No Care of the Widow the Fatherless and the Oppressed Of the Bound or Free of the Hungry or Thirsty VII THEY abstain from the Publick Offices and from the Holy Eucharist because they confess it not to be the Flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ which suffered for our Sins and which the Father of his Goodness raised again from the Dead And for this cause contradicting the Gift of God they die in their Disputes But much better would it be for them to love it that they might one day rise through it It will therefore become you to abstain from such Persons and not to speak with them neither in Private nor in Publick But to hearken to the Prophets and especially to the Gospel in which both Christ's Passion is manifested unto us and his Resurrection perfectly declared But flee all Divisions as the beginning of Evils VIII FOLLOW your Bishop as Jesus Christ the Father And the Presbytery as the Apostles As for the Deacons reverence them as the Command of God Let no Man do any thing of what belongs to the Church without the Bishop Let that Eucharist be look'd upon as Firm and Just which is either offer'd by the Bishop or by Him to whom the Bishop has given his Consent Wheresoever the Bishop shall appear there let the People also be As where Jesus Christ is there is the Catholick Church It is not lawful without the Bishop neither to Baptise nor to celebrate the Holy Communion But whatsoever he shall approve of that is also
wicked Wretch art Thou thus to hasten to transgress our Commands and to perswade others also to do likewise to their Destruction Ignatius answered No one ought to call Theophorus after such a manner forasmuch as all wicked Spirits are departed far from the Servants of God But if because I am a trouble to those Evil-Spirits you call me wicked with reference to them I confess the Charge For having within me Christ the Heavenly King I dissolve all the Snares of the Devil V. TRAJAN reply'd And who is Theophorus Ignat. He who has Christ in his Breast Trajan And do not we then seem to thee to have the Gods within us who fight for us against our Enemies Ignat. You Err in that you call the Evil-spirits of the Heathens GODS For there is but ONE GOD who made Heaven and Earth and the Sea and all that are in Them and ONE JESUS CHRIST his only Begotten Son whose favour may I enjoy VI. TRAJAN His favour you say who was Crucified undâ—r Pontius Pilate Ignat. His who Crucified Sin with the Inventor of it and has put all the Power and Malice of the Devil under their Feet who from their Hearts believe in Him Trajan Dost thou then carry Christ within Thee Ignat. I do for it is written I will dwell in them and walk in them Then Trajan pronounced this Sentence against him Forasmuch as Ignatius has confess'd that he carries about within himself Him that was Crucified we Command that he be carried Bound by Souldiers to the Great Rome there to be thrown to the Beasts for the Entertainment of the People VII WHEN the Holy Martyr heard this Sentence he cry'd out with Joy I thank thee O LORD that thou hast vouchsafed to Honour me with a perfect love towards Thee and hast made me to be put in Iron Bonds with thy Apostle Paul Having said this he with Joy put his Bonds about him And having pray'd for the Church and commended it with Tears unto the LORD He was hurried away like a Stout Ram the Leader of a good Flock by the Bruitish Soldiers in order to his being carried to Rome there to be devoured by the Savage Beasts VIII WHEREFORE with much readiness and Joy out of his desire to Suffer he left Antioch and came to Seleucia from whence he was to Sail towards Rome And after a great deal of Toil being come to Smyrna he hastned with all possible Gladness to see the Holy Polycarp his Fellow-Scholar who was Bishop there For they had both of them been formerly the Disciples of St. John IX Being brought to him and communicating with him in Spiritual Gifts but especially rejoycing in his Bonds He intreated first of all the whole Church for the Churches and Cities of Asia Honour'd this Holy Man by their Bishops and Priests and Deacons all hastning to him if by any means they might receive some part of his Spiritual Gift but more particularly Polycarp to contend with God in his behalf that being the more suddainly taken by the Beasts from the World he might appear before the Face of Christ. X. FROM Smyrna he came to Troas And being carried from thence to Neapolis he passed by Philippi through Macedonia on Foot and came to Epidamnus where having got a Ship he Sail'd cross the Adriatick Sea and from thence going higher into the Tyrrhone and passing by several Islands and Cities at length he came to Puteoli Which being shew'd to the Holy Man he pressed by all means to Land there being desirous to Walk from thence after the Example of the Apostle Paul But a Violent Wind arising and driving on the Ship They would not suffer him so to do Wherefore wishing all Happiness to the Charity of the Brethren in that place he sail'd forward XI AND the Wind continuing favourable to us in one Day and a Night we indeed were unwillingly hurried on as sorrowing to think of the Separation from this Holy Martyr But with reference to him it happened justly according to his Wish that he might go the sooner out of the World and attain unto the LORD whom he loved Wherefore sailing into the Roman Port that the Vain Glory of the World might have an End the Soldiers began to be offended at our slowness but the Bishop with great Joy complied with their Hastiness XII BEING therefore soon forced away from the Port we forthwith met the Brethren for the report of what concern'd the Holy Martyr was spread abroad who were full of Fear and Joy For they rejoyced in that God had vouchsafed them the Company of Theophorus but were afraid when they consider'd that such an One was brought thither to die Now some of these he commanded to hold their peace who were the most zealous for his safety and said THAT the People ought to be appeased that they should not desire the destruction of the Just. Whom presently knowing by the Spirit and saluting all of them he desired them that they would shew a true Love to him disputing yet more with them than he had done in his Epistle and perswading them not to Envy him who was hastning unto the LORD And so all the Brethren kneeling down he pray'd to the Son of God in behalf of the Churches that he would put a stop to the Persecution and increase the Love of the Brethren towards each other Which being done he was with all haste led into the Amphi-Theatre and there according to the Command of Coesar before given thrown to the Wild Beasts that so their Boastings might come to an End For it was then a very solemn day call'd in the Roman Tongue the xiii th of the Calends of January upon which the People were more than ordinarily wont to be gather'd together XIII IN this manner was he deliver'd to the Beasts by wicked Men that so the desire of the Holy Martyr Ignatius might be accomplish'd which he mention'd before-hand in his Epistle as it is written The Desire of the Righteous is Acceptable namely That he might not be Burthensome to any of the Brethren for the gathering together of his Remains but might be wholly devoured by them For only the greater and harder of his Holy Bones remain'd which were carried to Antioch and there put up in a Case as an inestimable Treasure XIV NOW these things were done the Day before the xiii th of the Calends of January Syria and Synecius being the second time Consuls Of which we our selves were Eye-witnessess with Tears And being the whole Night following in Watching Praying to God with our bended Knees that he would give us Weak Men some Assurance of what had been before done it happened that falling into a slumber some of us on the suddain saw the Blessed Ignatius standing by us and embracing us Others beheld him as it were sweating as if he were just come from his great Labour
and standing by the LORD with much Assurance and in unspeakable Glory XV. Which when we saw being filled with Joy and glorifying God the Giver of all good things and assured of the Blessedness of the Saint we thought fit to manifest unto you both the Day and the Time That being assembled together according to the time of his Martyrdom we may communicate with the Combatant and most valiant Martyr of Christ Who trod under foot the Devil and bare down his Snares even unto the end Glorifying our LORD Jesus Christ in his Venerable and Holy Memory To whom and with whom All Glory and Power be to the Father with the Blessed Spirit in the Holy Church for ever and ever Amen The Circular EPISTLE OF THE Church of SMYRNA Concerning the Martyrdom OF St. POLYCARP The Church of God which is at SMYRNA to the Church of God which is at PHILADELPHIA and to all the Other Assemblies of the Holy Catholick Church in every Place Peace and Love from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ be multiplied I. WE have written to you Brethren both of what concerns the other Martyrs but especially the Blessed Polycarp who by his Sufferings put an end to the Persecution setting as it were his Seal to it For almost all things that went before were done that the LORD might shew us from Above a Martyrdom truly such as became the Gospel For he expected to be deliver'd to the Persecution Even as the LORD also do's that we should become the Followers of his Example Considering not only what is profitable for our selves but also for our Neighbours Advantage For it is the part of a true and perfect Charity to desire not only that a Mans self should be saved but also all the Brethren together with him II. THE Sufferings then of all the other Martyrs were Blessed and Generous which they underwent according to the Will of God For so it becomes us who are more Religious than others to refer the Power and Ordering of all things unto Him And indeed who can chuse but admire the greatness of their Mind and that admirable Patience and Love of their Master which then appeared in them Who when they were so flea'd with Whipping that the frame and structure of their Bodies were laid open to their very inward Veins and Arteries nevertheless endured it And when all that beheld them pitied and lamented them yet shew'd so great a Generosity of Mind that not one of them let so much as a Sigh or a Groan escape them Plainly shewing that those Holy Martyrs of Christ at the very same time that they were thus tormented were absent from the Body Or rather that the LORD stood by them and conversed with them Wherefore being supported by the Grace of Christ they despised all the torments of the World By the Sufferings of an hour redeeming themselves from Everlasting Punishment For this cause even the Fire of their Cruel and Barbarous Executioners seemed Cold to them whilst they hoped hereby to escape that Fire which is Eternal and shall never be extinguish'd And beheld with the Eyes of Faith those good things which are reserved for them that endure to the End which neither Ear has heard nor Eye seen nor have they entred into the Heart of Man But to them they were now revealed by the LORD as who were no longer Men but already become Angels In like manner Those who were condemned to the Beasts being kept a long time in Prison underwent many cruel Torments Being forced to lie upon sharp Spikes laid under their Bodies and tormented with divers other sorts of punishments that so if it were possible the Tyrant by the length of their Sufferings might have brought them to Deny Christ. III. FOR indeed the Devil did invent many things against them But thanks be to God he was not able to prevail over All. For the Brave GERMANICUS strengthen'd those that fear'd by his Patience And fought Gloriously with the Beasts And when the Proconsul would have perswaded him telling him that he should consider his Age and spare himself He pull'd the Wild Beast to him and provoked him being desirous the more quickly to be deliver'd from a Wicked and Unjust World Upon this the whole multitude wondring at the Courage of the Holy and Pious Race of Christians cryed out Take away those wicked Wretches let POLYCARP be look'd out IV. THEN one named QUINTUS a Phrygian being newly come from thence seeing the Beasts was afraid This was he who forced himself and some others to present themselves of their own Accord to the Trial. Him therefore the Proconsul perswaded with many Promises to Swear and Sacrifice For which Cause Brethren we do not commend those who offer themselves to Persecution and especially seeing the Gospel teaches no such thing V. BUT the most Admirable POLYCARP when he first heard that he was called for was not at all concern'd at it but resolved to tarry in the City Nevertheless he was at the last perswaded at the desire of many to go out of it He departed therefore into a little Village not far distant from the City and there â—arried with a few about him doing nothing Night nor Day but praying for all Men and for the Churches which were in all the World according to his usual Custom And as he was praying he saw a Vision three days before he was taken and behold the Pillow under his Head seem'd to him on Fire Whereupon turning to those that were with him he said Prophetically That he should be Burnt alive VI. NOW when those who were to take him drew near he departed into another Village and immediately they who sought him came thither And when they found him not they seized upon two young Men that were there One of which being tormented confess'd For it was impossible the Holy Man should be concealed forasmuch as they who betray'd him were his own Domestic's So the Officer who is also called Cleronomus HEROD by name hastned to bring him into the Lists That so POLYCARP might receive his proper Portion being made partaker of Christ and they that betray'd him undergo the punishment of Judas VII THE Serjeants therefore and Horsemen taking the young Lad along with them departed about Supper-time being Friday with their Usual Arms as it were against a Thief or a Robber And being come to the place where he was about the Close of the Evening they found him lying down in a little upper Room from whence he could easily have escaped into another place but he would not saying The Will of the LORD be done Wherefore when he heard that they were come to the House he went down and deliver'd himself unto them And as they all wonder'd at his Age and Constancy some of them began to say Was there need of all this Care to take such an Old Man Then presently he
order'd that the same hour there should be somewhat got ready for them that they might Eat and Drink their fill Desiring them withall that they would give him one Hours Liberty the while to pray without disturbance And when they had permitted him he stood praying being full of the Grace of God so that he ceased not for two whole Hours to the Admiration of all that heard him Insomuch that many of the Souldiers began to Repent that they were come out against so Holy an Old Man VIII AS soon as he had done his Prayer in which he remember'd All Men whether little or great Honourable or Obscure that had at any time been acquainted with him and with them the whole Catholick Church over All the World the time being come that he was to depart the Guards set him up upon an Ass and so brought him into the City being the Day of the Great Sabbath But Herod the Chief Officer with his Father Nicetes met him in a Chariot And having taken him up to them and set him by them they began to persuade him saying What harm is there in it to say Lord Caesar and sacrifice with the rest that is usually said on such occasions and so be safe But POLYCARP at first answered them not Whereupon they continuing to urge him he answered I shall not do what you would perswade me to So being out of all Hope of prevailing with him they began first to rail at him and then with Violence threw him out of the Chariot insomuch that he hurt his Thigh with the fall But he without being the least moved at it went on readily with all diligence as if he had received no harm at all and so was brought to the Lists where there was so great a Tumult that no Body could be heard IX AS he was going into the Lists there came a Voice from Heaven to him Be strong POLYCARP and quit thy self like a Man Now no Man saw who it was that spake to him but for the Voice several of our Brethren that were present heard it And as he was brought in there was a great disturbance when they heard how that POLYCARP was taken For the rest being come near the Proconsul asked him Whether he was POLYCARP Who confessing that He was He persuaded him to deny the Faith saying Reverence thy Old Age with many other things of the like Nature as their Custom is concluding thus Swear by Caesar 's Fortune Repent and say Take away the Wicked Then POLYCARP looking with a stern Countenance upon the whole Multitude that was gathered together of wicked Gentiles and shaking his Hand at them looked up to Heaven and groaning said Take away the Wicked But the Proconsul insisting and saying Swear and I will set thee at Liberty Reproach Christ. POLYCARP replied Eighty and six years have I now served Christ and he has never done me the least wrong How then can I Blaspheme my King and my Saviour X. AND when the Proconsul nevertheless still insisted saying Swear by the Genius of Caesar. He answered Seeing thou art so vainly urgent with me that I should swear as thou call'st it by the Genius of Caesar seeming as if thou didst not know what I am Hear me freely professing it to thee that I am a Christian. But if thou farther desirest an account what Christianity is appoint a day and thou shalt hear it The Proconsul replied Persuade the People POLYCARP answered To thee have I offered to give a Reason of my Faith For so are we taught to pay all Due Honour such only excepted as would be hurtful to our selves to the Powers and Authorities which are ordained of God But for the People I esteem them not worthy that I should give any account of my Faith to them XI THE Proconsul continued and said unto him I have wild Beasts ready to those I will cast thee except thou repent He answered Call for them then For I am not at all disposed to repent from Good to Evil. But it is honourable to turn from those things that are Dishonest to what is Just and Good The Proconsul added Seeing thou despisest the Wild Beasts I will cause thee to be devoured by Fire unless thou shalt repent POLYCARP answered Thou threatnest me with Fire which burns for an hour and so is extinguished but knowest not the Fire of the Future Judgment and of that Eternal Punishment which is reserved for the Vngodly But why tarriest thou Bring forth what thou wilt XII HAVING said this and many other things of the like Nature he was filled with Confidence and Joy insomuch that his very Countenance shone with Grace So that he did not only not let it fall with any confusion at what was spoken to him but on the contrary the Proconsul was struck with Astonishment and sent his Cryer into the Middle of the Lists to proclaim three several times POLYCARP has confessed himself to be a CHRISTIAN Which being done by the Cryer the whole Multitude both of the Gentiles and of the Jews which dwelt at Smyrna being full of Fury cry'd out with a loud Voice This is the Doctor of Asia The Father of the Christians and the Overthrower of Our Gods He that has taught so many not to sacrifice nor pay any Worship to the Gods And saying this they cryed out and desired Philip the Asiarch that he would let loose a Lion against POLYCARP But Philip replied that it was not lawful for him to do so because that kind of Spectacles was already over Then it pleased them to cry out with one Consent that POLYCARP should be burnt alive For so it was necessary that the Vision should be fulfilled which was made manifest unto him by his Pillow when seeing it on fire as he was praying he turned about and said Prophetically to the Faithful that were with him I must be burnt alive XIII THIS therefore was done with greater speed than it was spoke The whole Multitude instantly gathering together Wood and Faggots out of the Shops and Baths The Jews especially according to their Custom with all readiness assisting them in it When the Fewel was ready POLYCARP laying aside all his upper Garments and undoing his Girdle tryed also to pull off his Shoes which aforetime he was not wont to do forasmuch as still every one of the Christians that was about him contended who should soonest touch his Flesh. For he was truly adorn'd by his good Conversation with all kind of Pity even before his Martyrdom This being done they presently put about him such Things as were necessary to prepare him for the Fire But when they would have nailed him to the Stake he said Let me alone as I am For he who has given me strength to endure the Fire will also enable me without your securing me by Nails to stand without moving in it XIV WHEREFORE they did not nail him but only tied
at whose Feet may we be found in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. AN ADVERTISEMENT Relating to the Foregoing EPISTLE THIS Epistle was transcribed by Caius out of the Copy of IRENAEUS the Disciple of POLYCARP who also lived and conversed with Ireneaeus And I Socrates transcrib'd it at Corinth out of the Copy of the said Caius Grace be with All. After which I Pionius again wrote it from the Copy before mentioned Having search'd it out by the Revelation of Polycarp who directed me to it As also I shall declare in what follows Having gather'd these Things together now almost corrupted through process of Time that Jesus Christ our LORD may also gather me togetheâ— with his Elect To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be Glory for Ever and Ever Amen THE Genuine Remains OF THE Apostolical Fathers PART II. In which are Comprised 1. The Epistle of St. BARNABAS 2. The Shepherd of HERMAS And 3. The Second Epistle of St. CLEMENT to the CORINTHIANS LONDON Printed for R. Sare at Grays-Inn Gate in Holborn 1693. THE Catholick Epistle OF St. BARNABAS THE CONTENTS Numb I. THE Salutation and Preface to the following Epistle II.III. That God has abolish'd the legal Sacrifices to introduce the Spiritual Righteousness of the Gospel IV. The Prophecies of Daniel concerning the Ten Kings and the Coming of Christ. V VI. That Christ was to suffer Proved from the Prophecies concerning him VII The Scape-Goat an Evident Type of This. VIII The Red-Heifer another Type of Christ. IX Of the Circumcision of the Ears And how in the first Institution of that Ceremony ABRAHAM Mystically foretold Christ by Name X. That the Commands of Moses concerning Clean and Unclean Beasts c. were all designed for a Spiritual Signification XI XII Baptism and the Cross of Christ foretold in Figures under the Law XIII The Promise of God not made to the Jews only but to the Gentiles also XIV And fulfilled to us by Jesus Christ. XV. That the Sabbath of the Jews was but a Figure of a more Glorious Sabbath to come XVI Their Temple of the Spiritual Temples of God XVII The Conclusion of the former Part of this Epistle XVIII He goes on to the other Part that which relates to Practice Which he divides into Two Considerations the former of the Way of Light the latter of the Way of Darkness XIX Of the Way of Light being a Summary of what a Christian is to do that he may be happy for ever XX. Of the Way of Darkness that is what kind of Persons shall be for ever cast out of the Kingdom of God XXI The Close of All Being an Earnest Exhortation to them to live so that they may be Blessed to all Eternity THE Catholick Epistle OF St. BARNABAS ALL Happiness to you my Sons and Daughters in the Name of our LORD Jesus Christ who loved us in Peace I. HAVING perceived a large abundance of the Great and Excellent Righteousness of God to be in you I exceedingly rejoyced in your Blessed and admirable Temper that ye had so worthily received the Grace that was given to you For which cause I am full of Joy hoping to be shortly set at Liberty in as much as I truly see a Spirit infused into you from the Blessed Fountain of God Wherefore having this Perswasion and being fully convinced that since I have begun to speak unto you I have had a more than ordinary Good Success in the way of Righteousness which is in Christ I also Brethren suppose my self to love you above my own Soul Because the Greatness of Faith and Charity dwelleth in him as also the Hope of that Life which is to come Wherefore considering this that if I shall take care to communicate to you a part of what I have received it shall turn to my Reward that I have served such as you are in Spiritual Things I gave diligence to write in a few Words unto you that together with your Faith your Knowledge also may be Perfect There are therefore Three Sorts of things to be considered in what relates to the LORD the Hope of Life the Beginning and the Completion of it For the Lord has both declared unto us by the Prophets those things that have been done and open'd to us the Beginnings of those that were to come Wherefore it will behove us as he has spoken to come with all readiness and as is fitting to his Altar I therefore not as a Teacher but as one of you will endeavour to lay a few things before you by which you may on many accounts become the more Joyful II. SEEING then the Days are exceeding Evil and the Adversary has got the Power of this Present World we ought to give the more diligence to enquire into the just ways of the LORD Now the Assistants of our Faith are Fear and Patience Our Fellow-Combatants Long-Suffering and Continence Whilst these remain Pure in what relates unto the LORD Wisdom and Knowledge and Prudence and Understanding rejoyce together with them For God has manifested to us by all the Prophets that he has no Occasion for our Sacrifices or Burnt-Offerings or Oblations saying To what purpose is the Multitude of your Sacrifices unto me saith the LORD I am full of the Burnt Offerings of Rams and the Fat of fed Beasts and I delight not in the Bloud of Bullocks or of Lambs or of He-Goats When ye come to appear before me Who hath required this at your hand to tread my Courts Bring no more vain Oblations Incense is an Abomination unto me your new Moons and Sabbaths the Calling of Assemblies I cannot away with it is iniquity even the Solemn Meeting Your new Moons and your appointed Feasts my Soul hateth These things therefore hath God abolished that the New Law of our LORD Jesus Christ which is without the yoak of any such Necessity might have an Offering becoming Men. For so the Lord saith again to those heretofore Did I at all command your Fathers when they came out of the Land of Egypt concerning Burnt Offerings or Sacrifices But this I commanded them saying Let none of you imagine Evil in your Hearts against his Neighbour and love no False-Oath Forasmuch then as we are not without Understanding we ought to apprehend the Design of our Merciful Father For he speaks to us being willing to seek out us who are in Error and shew us how we may come to him And therefore he thus bespeaks us The Sacrifice of God is a broken Spirit A broken and Contrite Heart God will not despise Wherefore Brethren we ought the more diligently to enquire after those things that belong to our Salvation that the Adversary may not have any Entrance into us and turn us aside from the Way of Life III. WHEREFORE he again speaketh to them concerning these things Ye shall not fast
as ye do this day to make your Voice to be heard on High Is it such a Fast that I have chosen A Day for a Man to afflict his Soul Is it to bow down his Head like a Bulrush and to spread Sackcloath and Ashes under him Wilt thou call this a Fast and an acceptable Day to the LORD But to us he saith on this wise Is not this the Fast that I have chosen to loose the Bands of Wickedness to undo the heavy Burdens and to let the Oppressed go Free and that ye break every Yoke Is it not to deal thy Bread to the Hungry and that thou bring the Poor that are cast out to thy House When thou seest the Naked that thou cover him and that thou hide not not thy self from thine own Flesh Then shall thy Light break forth as the Morning and thy Health shall spring forth speedily and thy Righteousness shall go before thee the Glory of the LORD shall be thy Rere-ward Then shalt thou call and the LORD shall answer thou shalt cry and he shall say Here I am If thou put away from the midst of thee the Yoke the putting forth of the Finger and speaking Vanity And if thou draw out thy Soul to the Hungry and satisfie the afflicted Soul In this therefore Brethren God has manifested his Fore-knowledge and Mercy to us because the People which he has purchased to his Beloved Son were to believe in Sincerity and therefore he has shewn these things to All of us that we should not run as Proselytes to the Jewish Law IV. WHEREFORE it is necessary that searching diligently into these Matters we should write to you what may serve to keep you whole To which end let us flee from every Evil Work and hate the Errors of the present Time that we may be Happy in that which is to come Let us not give our selves the Liberty of disputing with the Wicked and Sinners least we should chance in time to become like unto them For the Consummation of Sin is come as the Prophet Daniel says And for this End saith the LORD are the Times and the Days shortned And the LORD will suddainly come to his Temple For so the Prophet speaks There shall Ten Kings reign in the Earth and there shall rise last of all another and he shall humble three Kings And again Daniel speaks in like manner concerning the Kingdoms And I saw the fourth Beast dreadful and terrible and strong exceedingly and it had ten Horns I considered the Horns and behold there came up among them another little Horn before which were three of the first Horns pluckt up by the Roots We ought therefore to consider these things And I beseech you as one of your own Brethren loving you all beyond my own Life that you look well to your selves And be not like to those who add Sin to Sin and say That their Covenant is ours also Nay but it is ours only for they have for ever lost that which Moses received For thus saith the Scripture And Moses continued fasting forty Days and forty Nights in the Mount and he received the Covenant from the LORD even Two Tables of Stone written by the Hand of God But having turn'd themselves to Idols they lost it as the LORD also said to Moses Moses Go down quickly for thy People which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves and turn'd aside from the way which I commanded them And Moses cast the Two Tables of Stone out of his Hands and their Covenant was broken that the Love of Jesus might be sealed in your Hearts unto the Hope of his Faith Wherefore let us give heed unto the last Times For the time past of our Life and our Faith will profit us nothing unless we continue also to hate what is Evil and to withstand the future Temptations So the Son of God tells us Let us resist all Iniquity and hate it Wherefore consider the Works of the Evil Way Do not deceive your selves with your own private Thoughts as if you were already justified But coming All together into one place enquire what is agreeable to and profitable for the Beloved of God For the Scripture saith Wo unto them that are Wise in their own Eyes and Prudent in their own Sight Let us become Spiritual a perfect Temple to God As much as in us lies let us meditate upon the Fear of the LORD and strive to the utmost of our power to keep his Commandments that we may rejoyce in his Righteous Judgments For God will judge the World without respect of Persons and receive every one according to his Works If a Man shall be Good his Righteousness shall go before him If Wicked the Reward of his Wickedness shall follow him Take heed therefore least sitting still now that we are called we fall asleep in our Sins and the Wicked One getting the Dominion over us raise us up and shut us out of the Kingdom of the LORD But especially consider the great Signs and Wonders which ye have seen among the People of the Jews and how thus the LORD forsook them Beware therefore least it happen to us as it is written There be many Called but few Chosen V. FOR this cause did our LORD vouchsafe to give to up his Body to Destruction that through the Forgiveness of our Sins we might be sanctified that is by the sprinkling of his Bloud Now for what concerns the things that are written about him some belong to the People of the Jews and some to us For thus saith the Scripture He was wounded for our Transgressions He was bruised for our Iniquities and by his Bloud we are healed He was led as a Lamb to the slaughter and as a Sheep before his Shearers is dumb so he opened not his Mouth Wherefore we ought the more to give thanks unto God for that he hath both declared unto us what is passed and not suffer'd us to be without Understanding even of those things that are to come And therefore he saith The Nets are not unjustly spread for the Birds This he spake because a Man will justly perish if having the Knowledge of the Way of Truth he shall nevertheless not refrain himself from the Way of Darkness And for this Cause the LORD was content to suffer for our Souls although he be the LORD of the whole Earth to whom God said before the Beginning of the World Let us make Man after our own Image and Likeness Now how he suffered for us seeing it was by Men that he underwent it I will shew you The Prophets having received from him the Gift of Prophecy spake before concerning him But he that he might abolish Death and make known the Resurrection from the Dead was content as it was necessary to appear in the Flesh that he might
make good the Promise before given to our Fathers and preparing himself a New People might demonstrate to them whilst he was upon Earth that after the Resurrection he would judge the World And thus teaching the People of Israel and doing many Wonders and Signs among them he preached to them and shewed the exceeding great Love which he bare towards them And when he chose his Apostles which were afterwards to publish his Gospel he took Men who had been very great Sinners that thereby he might plainly shew That he came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance Then he clearly manifested himself to be the Son of God For had he not come in the Flesh how could Men have been able to look upon him that they might be saved Seeing if we behold only the Sun which was the Work of his Hands and shall hereafter cease to be we are not able to endure stedfastly to look against the Rays of it Wherefore the Son of God came in the Flesh for this Cause that he might fill up the measure of their Iniquity who have persecuted his Prophts unto Death And for the same reason also he suffered For saith God By the Stripes of his Flesh we are healed And again another Prophet When I shall smite the Shepherd the Sheep of the Flock shall be scatter'd Nevertheless he would suffer in this Manner Because it behoved him to suffer upon the Cross. For thus one saith prophecying concerning him Deliver my Soul from the Sword And again They pierced my Hands and my Feet And again The Congregation of wicked Doers rose up against me And again he saith I gave my Back to the Smiters and my Cheeks to be buffeted and my Face I set as an hard Rock VI. AND when he had fulfilled the Commandment of God What says he Who will contend with me Let him stand against me Or who is he that will implead me Let him draw near to the Servant of the LORD Wo be to you Because ye shall all wax old as a Garment the Moth shall eat you up And again the Prophet adds He is put for a Stone of stumbling Behold I lay in Zion for a Foundation a precious Stone a choice Corner-Stone an Honourable Stone And what follows And he that hopeth in him shall live for ever What then Is our Hope built upon a Stone God forbid But because the LORD hath put his Flesh in strength he saith this of it As it is written I have placed my self as a sure Rock And again the Prophet adds The Stone which the Builders refused is become the Head of the Corner And again he saith This is the Great and Wonderful Day which the LORD hath made I write these things the more plainly to you that ye may understand For indeed I could be content even to die for your sakes But what saith the Prophet The Counsel of the Wicked encompassed me about They came about me as Bees about the Hive And Vpon my Vesture they cast Lots Forasmuch then as our Saviour was to appear in the Flesh and suffer his Passion was hereby foretold For thus again saith the Prophet against Israel Wo be to their Soul because they have taken Wicked Counsel against themseves saying Let us lay Snares for the Righteous because he is unprofitable to us Moses also in like manner speaketh to them Behold thus saith the LORD God Enter ye into the Good Land of which the LORD hath sworn to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob that he would give it you and possess it a Land flowing with Milk and Hony Now what the Spiritual meaning of this is learn It is as if it had been said Put your Trust in Jesus who shall be manifested to you in the Flesh. For Man is the Earth which suffers Forasmuch as out of the Substance of the Earth Adam was formed What therefore do's he mean when he says Into a Good Land flowing with Milk and Honey Blessed be our LORD who has given us Wisdom and a Heart to understand his Secrets For so says the Prophet Who shall understand the hard Sayings of the LORD But he that is Wise and Intelligent and that loves his LORD Seeing therefore he has renewed us by the Remission of our Sins he has given us another form that we should have our Souls like the Soul of a Child Even as he himself has form'd us by the Spirit For thus the Scripture saith concerning us where it introduceth the Father speaking to the Son Let us make Man in our Image after our Likeness And let him have Dominion over the Beasts of the Earth and over the Fowls of the Air and over the Fish of the Sea And when the LORD saw the Man which he had form'd that behold he was very Good He said Encrease and multiply and replenish the Earth And this he spake to his Son I will now shew you how he made us into a second Form in the latter Days As also he saith Behold I will make the last as the first Wherefore the Prophet thus foretold it Enter into the Land flowing with Milk and Hony and rule in it Wherefore ye see how we are again formed anew as also he speaks by another Prophet Behold saith the LORD I will take from them that is from those whom the Spirit of the LORD foresaw their Hearts of Stone and I will put into them Hearts of Flesh. Because he was about to be made manifest in the Flesh and to dwell in us For my Brethren the Habitation of our Heart is a Holy Temple unto the LORD As he again saith Wherewithal shall I appear before the LORD my God and be Glorified He answers I will confess unto thee in the Congregation in the midst of my Brethren and will sing unto thee in the Church of the Saints Wherefore we are they whom he has brought into that good Land But what signifies the Milk and Hony Because as the Child is nourish'd first with Milk and then with Hony So we being kept alive with the Belief of his Promises and the Word of his Gospel shall live and have Dominion over the Land For so he foretold above saying Encrease and Multiply and have Dominion over the Fishes c. But who is there that is now able to have this Dominion over the Wild Beasts or Fishes or Fowls of the Air For you know that to Rule is to have Power that a Man should be Lord over what he rules But forasmuch as this we have not now he tells us when we shall have it Namely when he shall become perfect that so we may be made Inheritors of the Covenant of the LORD VII UNDERSTAND then my Beloved Children that the Good God hath before manifested all things unto us that we might know to whom we ought always to
are the Persecutors of them that are good Haters of Truth Lovers of Lies who know not the Reward of Righteousness nor cleave to any thing that is good Who administer not righteous Judgment to the Widdow and Orphan who watch for Wickedness and not for the Fear of the LORD From whom Gentleness and Patience are far off Who love Vanity and follow after Rewards Having no Compassion upon the Poor nor take any pains for such as are heavy laden and Opressed Ready to evil speaking not knowing him that made them Murderers of Children Corrupters of the Creature of God That turn away from the Needy Oppress the Afflicted The Adorers of the Rich but unjust Judges of the Poor being Altogether Sinners XXI IT is therefore fitting that learning the just Commands of the LORD which we have before mentioned we should walk in them For he that do's such things shall be glorified in the Kingdom of God But he that chuses the other part shall be destroyed together with his Works For this cause there shall be both a Resurrection and a Retribution I beseech those that are Excellent among you if so be you will take the Counsel which with a good intention I offer to you You have those with you towards whom you may do good Do not forsake them For the Day is at hand in which All things shall be destroyed together with the Wicked One. The LORD is near and his Reward is with him I beseech you therefore again and again be as good Law-givers to one another continue faithful Counsellors to each other Remove from among you all Hypocrisie And may God the LORD of all the World give you Wisdom Knowledge Understanding and a true apprehension of his Judgments in Patience Be ye taught of God Seeking what it is the LORD requires of you and doing it that ye may be saved in the Day of Judgment And if there be among you any remembrance of what is good think of me meditating upon these things that both your Desire and your Watching may turn to some good account I beseech you I ask it as a Favour of you Whilst you are in this beautiful Tabernacle of the Body be wanting in none of these things but without ceasing seek them and fulfill every Command For these things are fitting and worthy to be done Wherefore I have given the more diligence to write unto you according to my Ability that you might rejoice Farewel Children of Love and Peace The LORD of Glory and of all Grace be with your Spirit Amen The End of the Epistle of BARNABAS the Apostle and Companion of St. PAUL the Apostle THE SHEPHERD OF St. HERMAS THE CONTENTS The First BOOK Vision I. AGAINST Filthy and Proud Thoughts Also the Correction of HERMAS for his Neglect of his Sons II. Again of his Neglect in correcting his Talkative Wife and of his Lewd Sons and of his own Manners III Of the Building of the Church-Triumphant And of the several Orders of Reprobates IV. Of the Tryal and Tribulation that is about to come upon Men. The Second BOOK An Introduction to the following COMMANDS Command I. OF Believing in One God II. That we must avoid Detraction and do our Alms-Deeds with Simplicity III. Of Avoiding Lying And the Repentance of HERMAS for his Dissimulation IV. Of putting away Ones Wife for ADULTERY V. Of the Sadness of the Heart and of Patience VI. That every Man has two Angels and of the Suggestions of both VII That we must fear God but not the Devil VIII That we must flee from Evil and do Good IX That we must ask of God daily and without doubting X. Of the Sadness of the Heart and that we must take heed not to grieve the Spirit of God that is in us XI That the Spirits and Prophets are to be tried by their Works and of a Two-fold Spirit XII Of a two-fold Desire That the Commands of God are not impossible And that the Devil is not to be feared by them that Believe The Third BOOK Similitude I. THAT seeing we have no abiding City in this World we ought to look after that which is to come II. As the Vine is supported by the Elm so is the Rich-Man help'd by the Prayers of the Poor III. As the Green Trees in the Winter cannot be distinguish'd from the Dry so neither can the Righteous from the Wicked in this present World IV. As in Summer the living Trees are distinguish'd from the Dry by their Fruit and Green Leaves so in the World to come the Righteous shall be distinguish'd from the Unrighteous by their Happiness V. Of a True Fast and the Reward of it Also of the Cleanness of the Body VI. Of two Sorts of Voluptuous Men and of their Death Defection and of the Continuance of their Pains VII That they who Repent must bring forth Fruits worthy of Repentance VIII That there are many kinds of Elect and of Repenting Sinners And how all of them shall receive a Reward proportionable to the Measure of their Repentance and Good Works IX The Greatest Mysteries of the Militant and Triumphant Church which is to be built X. Of Repentance and Alms-Deeds The First BOOK OF St. HERMAS Which is Called His VISIONS The First VISION Against filthy and proud Thoughts also the Correction of Hermas for his Neglect of his Sons I. HE who had bred me up Sold a certain young Maid at Rome whom when I saw many Years after I remembred her and began to love her as a Sister It happen'd some time afterwards that I saw her wash'd in the River Tyber and I reach'd out my hand unto her and help'd her out of the River And when I saw her I thought with my self saying That I should be happy had I fortun'd to have met with a Wife like unto her both for her Beauty and Manners This I thought with my self nor did I think any thing more But not long after as I was walking and musing on these Thoughts I began to honor the Creature of God thinking with my self how noble and beautiful it is And when I had walk'd a little I fell asleep And the Spirit caught me away and carried me through a certain Place towards the Right-hand through which no Man could pass It was a Place among Rocks very steep and unpassable for Water When I was past this Place I came into a Plain and there falling down upon my Knees I began to pray unto the LORD and to confess my Sins And as I was praying the Heaven was opened and I saw the Woman which I had coveted saluting me from Heaven and saying HERMAS hail And I looking upon her answered Lady What dost thou do here She answered me I am taken up hither to convince thee of Sin unto the LORD Lady said I Wilt thou convince me No said she but hear the Words which I am about to speak unto thee God who dwelleth in Heaven and hath made All things out of Nothing and
has multiplied them for his Holy Churches sake is angry with thee because thou hast sinned against me And I answering said unto her Lady If I have sinned against thee tell me where or in what Place or when did I ever speak an unseemly or dishonest Word unto thee Have I not always esteemed thee as a Lady Have I not always reverenced thee as a Sister Why then dost thou imagine these wicked things against me Then she smiling upon me said The desire of Naughtiness has risen up in thy heart Does it not seem to thee to be an ill thing for a Righteous Man to have an evil desire rise up in his heart It is indeed a Sin and that a very great one to such a Man for a righteous Man thinketh what is righteous And whilst he does so and walketh uprightly he shall have the LORD in Heaven favourable unto him in all his Works But as for those who think wickedly in their hearts they take to themselves Death and Captivity and especially those who love this present World and glory in their Riches and regard not the good things that are to come their Souls wander up and down and know not where to fix Now this is the Case of such as are Doubtful who trust not in the LORD and despise and neglect their own life But do thou pray unto the LORD and he will heal thy Sins and the Sins of thy whole House and of all his Saints II. AS soon as she had spoken these Words the Heavens were shut and I remained utterly swallowed up in Sadness and Fear and said within my self If this be laid against me for Sin how can I ever be saved or how shall I ever be able to intreat the LORD for my many and great Sins With what Words shall I beseech him to be merciful unto me As I was thinking over these things and meditating in my self upon them behold a Chair set over against me of the whitest Wool as bright as Snow And there came an old Woman in a bright Garment having a Book in her hand and sate alone and saluted me saying HERMAS hail And I being full of Sorrow and weeping answered Hail Lady and she said unto me Why art thou sad Hermas who wert wont to be patient and modest and always cheerful I answered and said to her Lady a Reproach has been objected to me by an excellent Woman who tells me that I have sinned against her She replied Far be any such thing from the Servant of God But it may be the desire of her has risen up in thy Heart For indeed there is such a Thought even in the Servants of God leading unto Sin Nor ought such a detestable Thought to be in the Servant of God nor should a Spirit that is approved desire that which is evil nor especially HERMAS who contains himself from all wicked Appetites and is full of all Simplicity and of great Innocence III. NEVERTHELESS the LORD is not angry with thee for thine own sake but upon the account of thy House which has committed Wickedness against the LORD and against their Parents And that Act of thy Fondness towards thy Sons in that thou hast not admonished them but hast permitted them to live wickedly and for this Cause the LORD is angry with thee But he will heal all the Evils that are done before thee in thy House For through their Sins and Iniquities thou art wholly consumed in secular Affairs But now the Mercy of God hath taken Compassion upon thee and upon thine House and hath greatly comforted thee only as for thee do not wander but be of an even Mind and comfort thy House As the Workman bringing forth his Work offers it to whomsoever he pleases so shalt thou by teaching every day what is just cut off a great sin Wherefore cease not to admonish thy Sons for the LORD knows that they will repent with all their heart and he will write thee in the Book of Life And when she had said this she added unto me Wilt thou hear me Read I answer'd her Lady I will Hear then said she And opening the Book she read gloriously greatly and wonderfully such things as I could not keep in my Memory For they were terrible Words such as no Man could bear Howbeit I committed her last Words to my Remembrance for they were but few and of great use Behold the mighty LORD who by his invincible Power and with his excellent Wisdom made the World and by his glorious Counsel encompassed the Beauty of his Creature and with the Word of his strength fix'd the Heaven and founded the Earth upon the Waters and by his powerful Vertue establish'd his Holy Church which he hath blessed Behold he will remove the Heavens and the Mountains the Hills and the Seas and all things shall be made Plain for his Elect that he may render unto them the Promise which he has promised with much Honor and Joy if so be that they shall keep the Commandments of God which they have received with great Faith IV. AND when she had made an end of Reading she rose out of the Chair and behold four Young-men came and carried the Chair to the East And she called me unto her and touch'd my Breast and said unto me Did my Reading please thee I answered Lady These last things please me but what went before was severe and hard She said unto me These last things are for the Righteous but the foregoing for the Revolters and Heathen And as she was talking with me Two more appeared and took her up on their shoulders and went to the East where the Chair was And she went chearfully away and as she was going said unto me HERMAS be of good chear VISION II. Again of his Neglect in Correcting his Talkative Wife and of his Lewd Sons and of his Own Manners I. AS I was on the Way to Cumae about the same time that I had been the last Year I began to call to mind the Vision I formerly had And again the Spirit carried me away and brought me into the same Place in which I had been the Year before And when I was come into the Place I fell down upon my Knees and began to Pray unto the LORD and to Honour his Name that he had esteemed me worthy and had manifested unto me my former Sins And when I arose from Prayer behold I saw over against me the Old Woman whom I had seen the last Year walking and reading in a certain Book And she said unto me Can'st thou tell these things to the Elect of God I answered and said unto her Lady I cannot retain such great things in my Memory but give me the Book and I will write them down Take it says she and see that thou restore it again to me As soon as I had receiv'd it I went aside into a certain Place of the Field and transcribed every Letter for I found no
Syllables And as soon as I had finished what was written in the Book the Book was suddenly caught out of my hands but by whom I saw not II. AFTER fifteen days when I had fasted and intreated the LORD with all earnestness the Knowledge of the Writing was revealed unto me Now the Writing was this Thy Seed O HERMAS hath sinned against the LORD and have betrayed their Parents through their great Wickedness And they have been called the Betrayers of their Parents and have gone on in their Treachery And now have they added Lewdness to their other Sins and the Pollutions of Naughtiness Thus have they fill'd up the Measure of their Iniquities But do thou upbraid thy Sons with all these Words and thy Wife which shall be thy Sister And let her learn to refrain her Tongue with which she calumniates For when she shall hear these things she will refrain her self and shall obtain Mercy And they shall be instructed when thou shalt have reproach'd them with these Words which the LORD has commanded to be revealed unto thee Then shall their Sins be forgiven which they have heretofore committed and the Sins of all the Saints who have sinned even unto this day if they shall repent with all their Hearts and remove all Doubts out of their Hearts For the LORD hath sworn by his Glory concerning his Elect having determined the certain Day that if any one shall even now sin he shall not be saved For the Repentance of the Righteous has its End The Days of Repentance are fulfilled to all the Saints but to the Heathen there is Repentance even unto the Last Day Thou shalt therefore say to those who are over the Church that they order their Ways in Righteousness that they may fully receive the Promise with much Glory Stand fast therefore ye that work Righteousness and continue to do it that your Departure may be with the Holy Angels Happy are ye as many as shall endure the Great Tryal that is at hand and whosoever shall not deny his Life For the LORD hath sworn by his Son that who so denieth his Son and him being afraid of his Life he will also deny him in the World that is to come But those who shall never deny him he will of his exceeding great Mercy be favourable unto them III. BUT thou O Hermas remember not the Evils which thy Sons have done neither neglect thy Sister but take care that they amend of their former Sins For they will be instructed by this Doctrine if thou shalt not be mindful of what they have done wickedly For the Remembrance of Evils worketh Death but the Forgetting of them Life Eternal But thou O HERMAS hast undergone a great many Wordly Troubles for the Offences of thy House because thou hast neglected them as things that did not belong unto thee and thou art wholly taken up with thy great Business Nevertheless for this cause shalt thou be saved that thou hast not departed from the Living God And thy Simplicity and singular Continency shall preserve thee if thou shalt continue in them Yea they shall save All such as do such things and walk in Innocence and Simplicity They who are of this kind shall prevail against all Impiety and continue unto Life Eternal Happy are all they that do Righteousness they shall not be consumed for ever But thou wilt say Behold there is a great Tryal coming If it seems good to thee Deny him again The LORD is nigh to them that turn to him as it is written in the Books of Heldam and Modal who prophecy'd to the Israelites in the Wilderness IV. MOREOVER Brethren it was reavealed to me as I was sleeping by a very goodly young Man saying unto me What thinkest thou of that old Woman from whom thou receivedst the Book Who is she I answered a Sybil. Thou art mistaken said he she is not I reply'd who is she then Sir He answered me it is the Church of God And I said unto him Why then do's she appear Old She is therefore said he an Old Woman because she was the first of all the Creation and the World was made for her After this I saw a Vision at home in my own House and the Old Woman whom I had seen before came to me and ask'd me whether I had yet deliver'd the Book which she had given me to the Elders of the Church And I answered that I had not yet She reply'd Thou hast well done for I have certain Words more to tell thee But when I shall have finished all the Words they shall be clearly understood by the Elect. And thou shalt write two Books and send one to Clement and one to Grapté For Clement shall send it to the foreign Cities because it is permitted to him so to do But Grapté shall admonish the Widows and Orphans But thou shalt read it to the Elders that are over the Church VISION III. Of the Building of the Church-Triumphant and of the several Orders of Reprobates I. THE Vision which I saw Brethren was this When I had often fasted and pray'd unto the LORD that he would manifest unto me the Revelation which he had promised by the Old Woman to shew unto me The same Night she appear'd unto me and said unto me because thou dost thus afflict thy self and art so desirous to know All things come into the Field where thou wilt and about the sixth Hour I will appear unto thee and shew thee what thou must see I ask'd her saying Lady into what part of the Field She answered wherever thou wilt only chuse a good and a private place And before I could begin to speak and tell her the place she said unto me I will come where thou wilt I was therefore Brethren in the Field and I observed the Hours and came into the place where I had appointed to go And I beheld a Bench placed it was a linnen Pillow and over it spread a Covering of fine Linnen When I saw these things order'd in this Manner and that there was no Body in the place I began to be astonish'd and my Hair stood on end and a kind of Horror seiz'd me for I was alone But being come to my self and calling to mind the Glory of God and taking Courage I fell down upon my Knees and began again to confess my Sins as before And whilst I was doing this the Old Woman came thither with the six young Men whom I had seen before and stood behind me as I was praying and confessing my Sins unto the LORD And touching me she said leave off now to pray only for thy Sins pray also for Righteousness that thou maist receive a part from her in thy House And she lifted me up from the place and took me by the Hand and brought me to the Seat and said to the young Men Go and Build As soon as they were departed and we were alone she said unto me sit here
I answered her Lady let those who are Elder sit first She reply'd sit down as I bid you And when I would have sate on the right side she suffered me not but made a sign to me with her Hand that I should sit on the left As I was therefore musing and full of Sorrow that she would not suffer me to sit on the right side she said unto me HERMAS why art thou sad The place which is on the right Hand is theirs who have already attain'd unto God and have suffered for his Name sake But there is yet a great deal remaining unto thee before thou canst sit with them But continue as thou dost in thy Sincerity and thou shalt sit with them as all others shall that do their Works and shall bear what they have born II. I said unto her Lady I would know what it is that they have suffered Hear then said she Wild Beasts Scourgings Imprisonments and Crosses for his Name sake For this cause the right Hand of Holiness belongs to them and to all others as many as shall suffer for the Name of God but the left belongs to the rest Howbeit the Gifts and the Promises belong to both to them and to those on the left Hand only that sitting on the right Hand they have some Glory above the others But thou art desirous to sit on the right Hand with them and thy Defects are many But thou shalt be purg'd from thy Defects As also all who doubt not shall be cleansed from all the Sins which they have committed unto this Day And when she had said this she would have departed Wherefore falling down before her Feet I began to intreat her for the LORD'S sake that she would shew me the Vision which she had promised Then she again took me by the Hand and lifted me up and made me sit upon the Seat on the left side and holding up a certain bright Wand said unto me seest thou that great thing I reply'd Lady I see nothing She answered Dost thou not see over against thee a great Tower which is built upon the Water with bright square Stones For the Tower was built upon a square by those six young Men that came with her And thousands of other Men brought Stones Some drew them out of the Deep Others carried them from the Ground and gave them to the six young Men. And they took them and built As for those Stones which were drawn out of the Deep they put them all into the Building for they were polish'd and their Squares exactly answered one another and so one was joyn'd in such wise to the other that there was no space to be seen where they joyn'd Insomuch that the whole Tower appear'd to be built as it were of one Stone But as for the other Stones that were taken off from the Ground some of them they rejected others they fitted into the Building Others they cut out and cast at a distance from the Tower Moreover there were many other Stones which lay round about the Tower which they made no use of in the Building Some of these were rough others had Clefts in them others were white and round not proper for the building of the Tower Besides these I saw other Stones cast afar off from the Tower and falling into the High-Way but not continuing in the Way but were rolled from the Way into a desert Place Others I saw falling into the Fire and burning Others were glowing hot just by the Water yet could not roll themselves into it though very desirous to fall into the Water III. AND when she had shew'd me these things she would have departed But I said unto her Lady What do's it profit me to see these things and not understand what they mean She answer'd and said unto me you are very cunning in that you are desirous to know those things which relate to the Tower Yea said I Lady that I may declare them unto the Brethren and they may rejoyce and hearing these things may glorifie God with great Honour Then she said Many indeed shall hear them and when they shall have heard them some shall rejoyce and others weep And yet even these if they shall repent shall rejoyce too Hear therefore what I shall say concerning the Parable of the Tower and after this be no longer importunate with me about the Revelation For these Revelations have an end seeing they are fulfilled But thou dost not leave off to desire Revelations for thou art very urgent As for the Tower which thou seest built it is I my self namely the Church which have appeared to thee both now and heretofore Wherefore ask what thou wilt concerning the Tower and I will reveal it unto thee that thou mayst rejoyce with the Saints I said unto her Lady Because thou hast thought me once worthy to receive from thee the Revelation of all these things declare them unto me She answer'd me whatsoever is fit to be revealed unto thee shall be revealed Only let thy Heart be with the LORD and doubt not whatsoever thou shalt see I ask'd her Lady why is the Tower built upon the Water She replied I said before to thee that thou wert very Wise to enquire diligently concerning the Building therefore thou shalt find the Truth Hear therefore why the Tower is built upon the Water Because your Life is and shall be saved by Water For it is founded by the Word of the Almighty and Honourable Name and is supported by the Invisible Power and Virtue of God IV. AND I answering said unto her These things are very admirable But Lady who are those six young Men that build They are said she the Angels of God which were first appointed and to whom the LORD has deliver'd all his Creatures to build them up and to rule over For by these the Building of the Tower shall be finish'd And who are the rest who bring them Stones They also are the Holy Angels of the LORD but the other are more excellent than these Wherefore when the whole Building of the Tower shall be finished they shall all feast together besides the Tower and shall glorifie God because the Structure of the Tower is finish'd I ask'd her saying I would know the Condition of the Stones and the meaning of them what it is She answering said unto me Art thou better than all others that this should be revealed unto thee For others are both before thee and better than thou art to whom these Visions should be made manifest Nevertheless that the Name of God may be honour'd it has been and shall be reveal'd unto thee for the sake of those who are doubtful and think in their Hearts whether these things are so or not Tell them that all these things are true and that there is nothing in them that is not true but all are firm and truly established V. HEAR now then concerning the Stones that are in the Building The
stands and is deliver'd from his former Sorrow and sits not but acts manfully So you having heard the Revelation which God revealed unto you because God had Compassion upon you and renew'd your Spirit both laid aside your Infirmities and Strength came to you and you grew strong in the Faith and God seeing your Strength rejoyced For this cause he shewed you the Building of the Tower and will shew other things unto you if you shall have Peace with all your Heart among each other XIII BUT in the third Vision you saw her yet younger fair and chearful and of a serene Countenance For as if some good News comes to one that is sad he straightway forgets his Sadness and regards nothing else but the good News which he has heard and for the rest he is comforted and his Spirit is renew'd through the Joy which he has received Even so you have been renew'd in your Spirit by seeing these good things And for that you saw her sitting upon a Bench it denotes a strong Position because a Bench has four Feet and stands strongly And even the World its self is kept up by the four Elements They therefore that repent perfectly shall be young and they that turn from their Sins with their whole Heart shall be establish'd And now you have the Revelation fully ask no more to have any thing farther revealed unto you But if any thing be to be revealed it shall be made manifest unto you VISION IV. Of the Tryal and Tribulation that is about to come upon Men. I. I Saw a Vision Brethren twenty Days after the former Vision a Figure of the Tribulation that is at hand I was walking in the Field Way Now from the publick Way to the Mannour whither I went is about ten Furlongs It is a Way very little frequented And as I was walking alone I entreated the LORD that he would confirm the Revelations which he had shew'd unto me by his Holy Church and would grant Repentance to all his Servants who had been offended that his great and honourable Name might be glorified and because he thought me Worthy to whom he might shew his Wonders and that I might honour him and give thanks unto him And behold somewhat like a Voice answer'd me Doubt not HERMAS Wherefore I began to think and say within my self why should I doubt seeing I am thus setled by the LORD and have seen such glorious things I had gone but a little farther Brethren when behold I saw a Dust rise up to Heaven I began to say within my self Is there a Drove of Cattle coming that raises such a Dust It was about a Furlong off from me And behold I saw the Dust rise more and more insomuch that I began to suspect that there was somewhat extraordinary in it And the Sun shone a little and behold I saw a great Beast as it were a Whale and fiery Locusts came out of his Mouth The Heigth of the Beast was about a hundred Feet and he had a Head like a large Earthen Vessel I began to weep and to pray unto the LORD that he would deliver me from it Then I call'd to mind the Word which I had heard Doubt not HERMAS Wherefore Brethren putting on the Faith of God and remembring who it was that had taught me great things I deliver'd my self boldly unto the Beast Now the Beast came on in such a manner as if it could with one Blast have devour'd a City I came near unto it and the Beast extended its whole Bulk upon the Ground and put forth nothing but its Tongue nor once moved its self till I had quite pass'd by it Now the Beast had upon its Head four Colours first Black then a Red and Bloudy Colour then a Golden and then a White II. AFTER that I had pass'd by it and was gon forward about thirty Foot behold there met me a certain Virgin well-adorn'd as if she had been just come out of her Bride-Chamber all in white having on white Shoes and a Vail down her Face and cover'd with shining Hair Now I know by my former Visions that it was the Church and thereupon grew the more chearful And she saluted me saying Hail O Man I return'd the Salutation saying Lady Hail She answering said unto me Did nothing meet you O Man I replyed Lady There met me such a Beast as seem'd able to devour a whole People But by the Power of God and through his singular Mercy I escap'd it Thou didst escape it well said she because thou didst cast thy whole Care upon God and open'dst thy Heart unto him believing that thou couldst be safe by no other than by his Great and Honourable Name For this cause the LORD sent his Angel who is over the Beasts whose Name is HEGRIN and stopp'd his Mouth that he should not devour thee Thou hast escap'd a great Tryal by means of thy Faith and because thou didst not doubt for such a terrible Beast Go therefore and relate to the Elect of God the great things that he hath done for thee And thou shalt say unto them that this Beast is the Figure of the Tryal that is about to come If therefore ye shall have prepared your selves ye may escape it if your Heart be pure and without Spot and if ye shall serve God all the rest of your Days without complaint 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 Wo to the double-minded to those who shall hear these Words and shall despise them It had been better for them that they had not been born III. THEN I ask'd her concerning the four Colours which the Beast had upon its Head But she answer'd me saying Again art thou curious in that thou askest concerning these things And I said unto her Lady Shew me what they are Hear said she The Black which thou sawest denotes the World in which you dwell The Fiery and Bloudy Colour signifies that this Age must be destroyed by Fire and Bloud The Golden Part are ye who have escaped out of it For as Gold is try'd by the Fire and is made Profitable so are ye also in like manner try'd who dwell among the Men of this World They therefore that shall endure to the end and be proved by them shall be purged And as Gold by this Tryal is cleansed and loses it Dross so shall ye also cast away all Sorrow and Trouble and be made pure for the Building of the Tower But the White Colour denotes the time of the World which is to come in which the Elect of God shall inhabit Because the Elect of God shall be pure and without Spot unto Life Eternal Wherefore do not thou cease to speake these things in the Ears of the Saints Here ye have the Figure of the great Tribulation that is
Thought should arise in thy Heart thou wouldst be guilty of a great Sin and they who do such things follow the way of Death Look therefore to thy self and keep thy self from such a Thought For where Chastity remains in the Heart of a Righteous Man there an Evil Thought ought never to arise And I said unto him Sir Suffer me to speak a little with you He bad me Say on And I answer'd Sir If a Man shall have a Wife that is faithful in the LORD and shall catch her in Adultery shall a Man sin that continues to live still with her And he said unto me As long as he is ignorant of her Sin he commits no fault in living with her But if a Man shall know his Wife to have offended and she shall not repent of her Sin but go on still in her Fornication and a Man shall continue nevertheless to live with her he shall become guilty of her Sin and partake with her in her Adultery And I said unto him what therefore is to be done if the Woman continues on in her Sin He answered Let her Husband put her away and let him continue by himself But if he shall put away his Wife and marry another he also shall commit Adultery And I said What if the Woman that is so put away shall repent and be willing to return to her Husband shall she not be received by him He said unto me Yes and if her Husband shall not receive her he will sin and commit a great Offence against himself But he ought to receive her though an Offender if she repents only not often For to the Servants of God there is but one Repentance And for this Cause a Man that putteth away his Wife ought not to take another because she may repent This Act is alike both in the Man and in the Woman Now they commit Adultery not only who pollute their Flesh but who also make an Image If therefore a Woman perseveres in any thing of this kind and repents not depart from her and live not with her Otherwise thou also shalt be Partaker of her Sin But it is therefore commanded that both the Man and Woman should remain unmarried because such Persons may repent Nor do I in this administer any Occasion for the doing of these things so but rather that whoso has offended should not offend any more But for their former Sins God who has the Power of Healing will give a Remedy For it is he who can do all things II. I ASKED him again and said Seeing my LORD has thought me worthy with whom to dwell continually speak a few Words unto me because I understand nothing and my Heart is hardned through my former Conversation and open my Understanding because I am very dull and apprehend nothing at all And he answering said unto me I am the Minister of Repentance and give Understanding to all that repent Do's it not seem to thee to be a very wise thing to repent Because he that do's so gets a great Feeling For he feels himself to have sinn'd and done wickedly in the sight of the LORD and he remembers within himself that he has offended and repents and do's no more wickedly but do's that which is good and humbles his Soul and afflicts it because he has offended You see therefore that Repentance is a deep Sense And I said unto him For this cause Sir I enquire diligently into all things because I am a Sinner that I may know what I must do that I may live and because my Sins are many And he said unto me Thou shalt live if thou shalt keep these my Commandments And whosoever shall hear and do these Commands shall live unto God III. AND I said unto him I have even now heard from certain Teachers that there is no other Repentance besides that of Baptism when we go down into the Water and receive the Forgiveness of our Sins and that after that we must sin no more but live in Purity And he said unto me thou hast been rightly inform'd Nevertheless seeing now thou enquirest diligently into all things I will manifest this also unto thee yet not so as to give any Occasion of sinning either to those who shall hereafter believe or who have already believ'd in the LORD For neither they who have already believed or who shall hereafter believe have any Repentance of Sins but Forgiveness of them But as to those who are already called the LORD before that time appointed Repentance Because God knoweth the Thoughts of all Mens Hearts and their Infirmities and the manifold Wickedness of the Devil who is always contriving something against the Servants of God and maliciously lays Snares for them Therefore our merciful LORD had Compassion towards his Creature and appointed that Repentance and gave unto me the Power of it And therefore I say unto thee If any one after that Great and Holy Calling shall be tempted by the Devil and Sin he has but one Repentance But if he shall often sin and repent it shall not profit such a one for he shall hardly live unto God And I said Sir I am restored again to Life since I have thus diligently hearken'd to these Commands For I perceive that if I shall not hereafter add any more to my Sins I shall be saved And he said Thou shalt be saved and so shall all others as many as shall observe these Commandments IV. AND again I said unto him Sir seeing thou hearest me patiently shew me yet one thing more Tell me saith he what it is And I said If a Husband or Wife die and the Party which survives marry again do's he sin in so doing He that marries says he sins not Howbeit if he shall remain single he shall thereby gain to himself great Honour with the LORD Keep therefore thy Chastity and Modesty and thou shalt live unto God Observe from henceforth those things which I speak with thee and command thee to observe from the time that I have been deliver'd unto thee and dwell in thy House So shall thy former Sins be forgiven if thou shalt keep these my Commandments And in like manner shall all others be forgiven who shall observe these my Commandments The Fifth COMMAND Of the Sadness of the Heart And of Patience I. BE Patient says he and of an Even-Mind so shalt thou have Dominion over all Wicked Works and shalt fulfil all Righteousness For if thou shalt be Patient the Holy Spirit which dwelleth in thee shall be pure and not be darkned by any other Evil Spirit But being full of Joy shall be enlarged and feast in the Body in which it dwells and shall appear before the LORD with Joy and in great Peace But if any Anger shall over-take thee presently the Holy Spirit which is in thee will be straightned and seek to depart from thee For he is
Also of the Cleanness of the Body I. AS I was fasting and sitting down in a certain Mountain and giving Thanks unto God for all the things that he had done unto me behold I saw the Shepherd who was wont to converse with me sitting by me and saying unto me What has brought thee hither thus early in the Morning I answer'd Sir To Day I keep a Station He answer'd What is a Station I reply'd It is a Fast. He said What is that Fast I answer'd I fast as I have been wont to do Ye know not said he what it is to fast unto God nor is this a Fast which ye fast profiting nothing with God Sir said I what makes you speak thus He reply'd I speak it because this is not the true Fast which you think that you fast but I will shew you what that is which is a compleat Fast and acceptable unto God Hearken said he The LORD do's not desire such a needless Fast For by Fasting in this manner thou advancest nothing in Righteousness But the true Fast is this Do nothing wickedly in thy Life but serve God with a pure Mind and keep his Commandments and walk according to his Precepts nor suffer any wicked Desire to dwell in thy Mind And trust in the LORD that if thou dost these things and fearest him and abstainest from every evil Work thou shalt live unto God If thou shalt do this thou shalt perfect a great Fast and an acceptable one unto the LORD II. HEARKEN unto the Similitude which I am about to propose unto thee as to this matter A certain Man having a Farm and many Servants planted a Vineyard in a certain part of his Estate for his Posterity And taking a Journey into a far Country chose one of his Servants which he thought the most faithful and approved and deliver'd the Vineyard into his care commanding him that he should stake up his Vines Which if he did and fulfilled his Command he promised to give him his Liberty Nor did he command him to do any thing more and so went into a far Country After then that that Servant had taken that Charge upon him he did whatsoever his LORD commanded him And when he had staked the Vineyard and found it to be full of Weeds he began to think with himself saying I have done what my Lord commanded me I will now dig this Vineyard and when it is digg'd it will be more beautiful and the Weeds being pull'd up it will bring forth more Fruit and not be choak'd by the Weeds So setting about his Work he digg'd it and pluck'd up all the Weeds that were in it And by that means the Vineyard became very beautiful and prosperous and not over-run and choak'd with Weeds After some time the LORD of the Vineyard comes and goes into the Vineyard and when he saw that it was handsomely stak'd and digg'd and the Weeds pluck'd up that were in it and the Vines flourishing he rejoyced greatly at the Care of his Servant And calling his Son whom he loved and who was to be his Heir and his Friends with whom he was wont to consult he tells them what he had commanded his Servant to do and what his Servant had done more And they immediately congratulated that Servant that he had received so full a Testimony from his Lord. Then he said unto them I indeed promised this Servant his Liberty if he observed the Command which I gave him and he observed it and besides has done a good Work to my Vineyard which has exceedingly pleased me Wherefore for this Work which he hath done I will make him my Heir together with my Son because that when he saw what was good he dissembled it not but did it This Design of the LORD both his Son and his Friends approved namely that this Servant should be Heir together with his Son Not long after this the Master of the Family calling together his Friends sent from his Supper several kinds of Food to that Servant Which when he had received he took so much of them as was sufficient for himself and divided the rest among his Fellow Servants Which when they had received they rejoyced and wish'd that he might find yet greater favour with his Lord for what he had done to them When his Lord heard all these things he was again fill'd with great Joy and calling again his Friends and his Son together he related to them what his Servant had done with the Meats which he had sent unto him They therefore so much the more assented to the Master of the Houshold that he ought to make that Servant his Heir together with his Son III. I SAID unto him Sir I know not these Similitudes neither can I understand them unless you expound them unto me I will says he expound all things unto thee whatsoever I have talk'd with thee or shewn unto thee Keep the Commandments of the LORD and thou shalt be approved and shalt be written in the Number of those that keep his Commandments But if besides those things which the LORD hath commanded thou shalt add some good thing thou shalt purchase to thy self a greater Dignity and be in more favour with the LORD than thou shouldst otherwise have been If therefore thou shalt keep the Commandments of the LORD and shalt add to them these Stations thou shalt rejoyce but especially if thou shalt keep them according to my Commands I said unto him Sir Whatsoever thou shalt command me I will observe for I know that thou wilt be with me I will said he be with thee who hast taken up such a Resolution and I will be with all those who purpose in like manner This Fast saith he whilst thou dost also observe the Commandments of the LORD is exceeding good Thus therefore shalt thou keep it First of all take heed to thy self and keep thy self from every wicked Act and from every filthy Word and from every hurtful Desire and purifie thy Sense from all the Vanity of this present World If thou shalt observe these things this Fast shall be such as it ought to be Thus therefore do Having perform'd what is before written that day on which thou fastest thou shalt taste nothing at all but Bread and Water and computing the Quantity of Food which thou art wont to eat upon other Days thou shalt lay aside the Expence which thou shouldst have made that Day and give it unto the Widow the Fatherless and the Poor And thus thou shalt perfect the Humility of thy Soul that he who receives of it may satisfie his Soul and his Prayer come up to the LORD God for thee If therefore thou shalt thus accomplish thy Fast as I command thee thy Sacrifice shall be acceptable uto the LORD and thy Fast shall be written in his Book This Station thus perform'd is good and pleasing and acceptable unto the LORD These things if thou shalt observe with
Virgins and the Stones that were drawn out of the Deep and not cut but put into the Building just as they came forth and why the ten Stones were first laid in the Foundation then the twenty five then thirty five then forty Also concerning those Stones that were put into the Building and again taken out and carried back into their place Fulfil I pray the desire of my Soul as to all these things and manifest all unto me And he said unto me If thou shalt not be dull thou shalt know all and shalt see all the other things that are about to happen in this Tower and shalt understand diligently all these Similitudes And after a few days we came into the same place where we had sate before and he said unto me Let us go unto the Tower for the LORD of it will come and examine it So we came thither and found none but those Virgins there And he asked them whether the LORD of that Tower was come thither And they reply'd that he would be there presently to examine the Building VI. AFTER a very little while I saw a great Multitude of Men coming and in the middle of them a Man so tall that he surpassed the Tower in Bigness And about him were those six who before commanded in the Building and all the rest of those who had built that Tower and many others of great Dignity And the Virgins that kept the Tower ran to meet him and kissed him and began to walk near unto him But he examined the Building with so much care that he handled every Stone and strook every one with a Rod which he held in his Hand of which some being so struck turn'd black as Soot others were rough some looked as if they had Cracks in them others seem'd maimed some neither black nor white some look'd sharp and agreed not with the other Stones and others were full of Spots These were the several kinds of these Stones which were not found proper in the Building All which the LORD commanded to be taken out of the Tower and laid near it and other Stones to be brought and put in their Places And they that built ask'd him from which of the Mountains he would have Stones brought to put in the Place of those that were laid aside But he forbad them to bring any from the Mountains and commanded that they should take them out of a certain Field that was near So they digged in that Field and found many bright square Stones and some also that were round Howbeit all that were found in that Field were taken away and carried through the Gate by those Virgins and those of them that were square were fitted and put into the places of those that were pulled out But the round ones were not put into the Building because they were hard and it would have required too much time to â—ut them but they were placed about the Tower as if they should hereafter be cut square and put into the Building for they were very white VII WHEN he who was chief in Dignity and LORD of the whole Tower saw this he called to him the Shepherd that was with me and gave him the Stones that were rejected and laid about the Tower and said unto him Cleanse these Stones with all Care and fit them into the Building of the Tower that they may agree with the rest but those that will not suit with the rest cast away afar from off from the Tower When he had thus commanded him he departed with all those that came with him to the Tower But those Virgins still stood about the Tower to keep it And I said unto that Shepherd How can these Stones seeing they have been rejected return into the Building of this Tower He reply'd I will cut off the greatest part from these Stones and will add them to the Building and they will agree with the rest And I said Sir How will they be able to fill the same place when they shall be so much cut away He answer'd They that shall be found too little shall be put into the middle of the Building and the greater shall be placed without and keep them in When he had said thus unto me he added Let us go and after three days we will return and I will put these Stones being cleansed into the Tower For all these that are about the Tower must be cleansed least the Master of the House chance to come upon the suddain and find those which are about the Tower unclean and so shall despise them and these Stones shall not be put into this Building and I shall be look'd upon to have been negligent When therefore we came after three days to the Tower he said unto me Let us examin all these Stones and let us see which of them may go into the Building I answer'd Sir Let us see VIII AND first of all we began to consider those which had been Black for they were found just such as they were when they were pull'd out of the Tower Wherefore he commanded them to be removed from the Tower and put by themselves Then he examined those which had been rough and commanded many of those to be cut round and to be fitted by the Virgins into the Building of the Tower So they took them and fitted them into the middle of the Building and he commanded the rest to be laid by with the Black Ones for they also were become Black Next he considered those which were full of Cracks and many of those also he order'd to be pared away and so to be added to the rest of the Building by the same Virgins These were placed without because they were found entire but the residue through the multitude of their Cracks could not be reform'd and therefore were cast away from the Building of the Tower Then he consider'd those that were maimed many of these had Cracks and were become Black Others had large Clefts These he commanded to be placed with those that were rejected but the rest being cleansed and reform'd he commanded to be put into the Building These therefore those Virgins took up and fitted into the Middle of the Building because they were but Weak After these he examined those which were found half White and half Black and many of those were now Black These also he order'd to be laid among those that were cast away The rest were found altogether White those were taken up by the Virgins and fitted into the same Tower And these were put in the outside because they were found entire that so they might keep in those that were placed in the middle for nothing was cut off from them Next he look'd upon those which were Hard and Sharp But few of these were made use of because they could not be Cut For they were found very hard but the rest were form'd and fitted by the Virgins into the middle of the Building because they were
of his Spirit XXV AS concerning the eighth Mountain in which were a great many Springs by which every kind of all the Creatures of God was watered they are such as have believed the Apostles which the LORD sent into all the World to preach and some Teachers who have preached and taught purely and sincerely and have not in the least yielded to any Evil Desires but have constantly walked in Righteousness and Truth These therefore have their Conversation among the Angels XXVI AGAIN as for what concerns the ninth Mountain which was desert and full of Serpents they are such as have believed but had many Stains These are such Ministers as discharge their Ministry amiss ravishing away the Goods of the Widows and Fatherless and serve themselves not others out of those things which they have received These if they continue in this Covetousness shall deliver themselves unto Death nor shall there be any hope of Life for them But if they shall be converted and shall discharge their Ministry sincerely they may live As for those which were found rough they are such as have deny'd the Name of the LORD and not return'd again to the LORD but have become savage and wild not applying themselves to the Servants of God but being separated from them have for the sake of a little Anxiety lost their Lives For as a Vine that is forsaken in a Hedge and never dress'd perishes and is choaked by the Weeds and in time becomes wild and ceases to be useful to its LORD So this kind of Men despairing of themselves and being made sour have begun to be unprofitable to their LORD Howbeit to these there is at last Repentance allow'd if they shall not be found from their Hearts to have denied Christ But if any of these shall be found to have denied him from his Heart I cannot tell whether such a one can attain unto Life And I say therefore that if in these Days any one has denied he should return unto Repentance for it cannot be that any one who now denies the LORD can afterwards attain unto Salvation Nevertheless Repentance is proposed unto them who have formerly deny'd But he who will repent must hasten on his Repentance before the Building of this Tower is finished Or if not he shall be delivered by those Women unto Death But they that are maimed are the Deceitful and those who mix one with another These are the Serpents that you saw in that Mountain For as the Poyson of Serpents is deadly unto Men So the Words of such Persons infect and destroy Men. They are therefore maimed in their Faith by reason of that kind of Life in which they lead Howbeit some of them having repented have been saved and so shall others of the same kind be saved if they shall repent but if not they shall die by those Women whose Power and Force they enjoy XXVII FOR what concerns the tenth Mountain in which were the Trees covering the Cattle they are such as have believed and some of them been Bishops that is Governours of the Churches Others are such Stones as have not feignedly but with a chearful Mind entertain'd the Servants of God Then such as have been set over inferior Ministries and have protected the Poor and the Widows and have always kept a chast Conversation therefore they also are protected by the LORD Whosoever shall do on this wise are honour'd with the LORD and their Place is among the Angels if they shall continue to obey the LORD even unto the End XXVIII AS to the eleventh Mountain in which were Trees loaded with several sorts of Fruits they are such as have believed and suffered Death for the Name of the LORD and have endured with a ready Mind and have given up their Lives with all their Hearts And I said Why then Sir have all these Fruit but some fairer than others Hearken said he Whosoever have suffered for the Name of the LORD are esteemed honourable by the LORD and all their Offences are blotted out because they have suffered Death for the Name of the Son of God Hear now why their Fruits are different and some of them excel others They who being brought before Magistrates and being ask'd deny'd not the LORD but suffered with a ready Mind these are more honourable with the LORD The Fruits therefore that are the most fair are these But they who were fearful and doubtful and have deliberated with themselves whether they should confess or deny Christ and yet have suffered their Fruits are smaller because that this Thought came into their Hearts For it is a wicked and evil Thought for a Servant to deliberate whether he should deny his Master Take heed therefore ye who have such Thoughts that this Mind continue not in you and ye die unto God But ye who suffer Death for his Name sake ought to honour the LORD that he has esteem'd you worthy to bear his Name and that you should be delivered from all your Sins And why therefore do you not rather esteem your selves happy Why do you not think that if any one among you suffer he performs a great Work For the LORD giveth you Life and ye understand it not For your Offences did oppress you and had you not suffer'd for his Names sake ye had now been dead unto the LORD Wherefore I speak this unto you who deliberate whether ye should confess or deny him Confess that ye have the LORD for your God least at any time denying him ye be delivered over into Bonds For if all Nations punish their Servants which deny their Masters What think you that the LORD will do unto you who has the Power of all things Remove therefore out of your Hearts these Doubts that ye may live for ever unto God XXIX AS for the twelfth Mountain which was white they are such as have believed like sincere Children into whose Thoughts there never came any Malice nor have they ever known what Sin was but have always continued in their Integrity Wherefore this kind of Men shall without all doubt inherit the Kingdom of God because they have never in any thing defiled the Commandments of God but have continued with Sincerity in the same Condition all the days of their Life Whosoever therefore said he shall continue as Children without Malice shall be more honourable than all those of whom I have yet spoken For all such Children are honour'd by the LORD and esteemed the first of all Happy therefore are ye who have removed all Malice from you and put on Innocence because ye shall first see the LORD And after he had thus ended his Explication of all the Mountains I said unto him Sir Shew me now also what concerns the Stones that were brought out of the Plain and put into the Tower in the room of those that were rejected as also concerning those round Stones which were added into the Building of the Tower and also of those who still continued