Life Eternal 14 Thou therefore cease not to speak these things in the ears of the Saints ye have also the figure of great tribulation about to come upon you for if ye would it shall be nothing In your mind retain these things that are prescribed These things when she had said she departed but I saw not to what place she went away But there was a noise made and I turned behind me being afraid and did think that beast was approaching The End of the first Book The second Book of Hermas the Disciple of Paul which is intituled the SHEEPHERD The Proaem 1. WHen I had prayed at home and had sat down upon the Bed there entered a certain man of a reverend face in a Pastoral habit cloathed with a white Cloak carrying a bag in his shoulders and a Rod in his hand and he saluted me and I resaluted him and forthwith he sitteth down next me 2 And saith to me I am sent from that venerable Messenger that I may dwell with thee the rest of the daies of thy life And I thought him to have come to tempt me And I say to him for who art thou for I know to whom I am delivered He saith to me knowest thou not me No quoth I I am that Sheepherd to whom thou art delivered 3 He as yet speaking his figure was changed and when I had known it to be him to whom I was delivered I was confounded and forthwith a fear came in upon me and I was wholly broken with sorrow because I had answered to him so unwisely He saith to me be not confounded but receive power in thy mind in my commandments which I am about to give thee 4 For I am sent quoth he that what things thou didst before see I may shew thee them all again chiefly of these which are useful for YOU First of all my Commandments and the figures of similitudes write thou but the rest as I shall shew them thee so shalt thou write them But therefore I injoyn thee first to write my Commandments and the Similitudes that after that by reading thou may'st more easily keep them 5 Therefore I wrote the commands and similitudes even as he had enjoyned me which being heard if YE shall keep them and in them shall walk and shall exercise them in a PURE MIND ye shall receive from the Lord what things he promised you but if these being heard ye shall not act Repentance but shall add unto your transgressions ye shall receive the adverse things from the Lord all these that Sheepherd the Messenger of Repentance commanded me to write COMMAND I. 1 FIrst of all believe thou that there is one God who created and finished all things and made all things of nothing He capable of all things is alone great who can neither with word be defined nor by the mind conceived 2 Believe therefore on him and fear him and fearing have ABSTINENCE These keep and cast away from thee all naughtinesse and put on the virtue of Righteousnesse and thou shalt LIVE TO GOD if thou shalt keep this Commandment COMMAND II. 1 HE said to me have thou simplicity and be thou innocent and thou shalt be as the infant who knows not malice who hath lost the life of men First of none speak evilly nor willingly hear one speaking evilly But if thou also shalt hear thou shalt be partaker of the sins of the evil speaker and believing thou likewise shalt have sin because thou hast believed him that speaketh evilly of thy brother 2 Detraction is pernitious it is an unconstant devil 〈…〉 it consisteth never in peace but remaineth alwaies in discord contain thee from it and have alwaies peace with thy brother Put on holy CONSTANCY in which are no sins but all are gladsome and do good out of thy labours to all needful ones give simply nothing doubting to whom thou mayst give give to all FOR TO ALL WOULD GOD GIVE OF HIS GOOD THINGS 3 Therefore they that get shall render account to God why they received it and to what But they who get having feigned necessity shall render a reason but he that giveth shall be innocent for as he receiveth from the Lord he accomplished his Ministry in doubting nothing to whom he should give and to whom he should not give and he did this Ministry simply gloriously to God Keep therefore this command as I have spoke to thee that thy repentance may be found simple and it may become well to thy house and have thou A CLEAN HEART COMMAND III. 1 A Gain he said to me love the truth and let all true speech proceed out of thy mouth that THE SPIRIT WHICH THE LORD HATH PLACED IN THY FLESH may be found TRUE with all men and the Lord may be magnified who HATH GIVEN A SPIRIT IN THEE because the Lord is true in every word and there is not a lie in him Therefore they that lie deny the Lord not restoring to God the PLEDGE which they received 2 FOR THEY RECEIVED A SPIRIT WITHOUT LYE This if they render subject to lying they do stain the command of the Lord and become deceivers I having heard these things wept vehemently who when he saw me weeping he said to me why weepest thou And I said because Lord I know not if I can be able to be saved Why saith he 3 And I said because never Lord have I spoken a true word in my life but have alwayes lived in simulation and a lye for the truth I have affirmed to all and there hath not any one contradicted me but trust hath been had to my word how then can I live seeing I have so done And he said to me thou indeed thinkest well and truly for it became thee as the servant of God to walk in the truth and not to conjoyn an evil conscience with the SPIRIT OF TRUTH nor to cause sadness to the holy and true Spirit of God 4 And I said to him Never Lord have I heard these words so diligently And he said to me Now thou hearest them take care after this that also these false things which before thou hast spoken for thy employments with these words that also they may receive faith for also they can receive faith if after this thou shalt speak true things and if thou shalt keep the truth thou shalt be able to attaine LIFE And whosoever shall hear this command and shall do it and shall depart from lying he shall LIVE TO GOD. COMMAND IIII. 1 I Command thee quoth he that thou keep CHASTITY let not the thought of thine heart arise to thee of a strange matrimony or of Fornication for this begetteth great sin but be thou alwaies mindfull of the Lord at all hours and thou shalt NEVER SIN For if this so evil cogitation ascend into thine heart thou commitest a great sin And they that do these things follow the way of death See thou therefore abstain thy self from this cogitation for where
that they who are overseers of Ministrings who have both protected the Poor and the Widdows and have perpetually had a chast conversation therefore these men are protected by the Lord these things whosoever shall do are honoured with the Lord and among the MESSENGERS is their place if they shall persevere even until the Consummation to obey the Lord. 113 Of the ELEVENTH Mountain in which were trees loaden with divers fruits are these who have believed and for the Name of the Lord have undergone Death and with a ready mind have suffered and with their whole heart have delivered up their souls 114 And I said why then Lord have all these trees certain fruits but of them some more fair Hear quoth he whosoever for the Name of the Lord have suffered are esteemed honoured with the Lord and the failings of them all are blotted our because for the Name of the Son of God they have undergone Death 115 But why the fruits of them are unlike and some among them excel Hear thou for whosoever being led to the POWERS being asked have not denied the Lord but with a ready mind have suffered are more honoured with God therefore the fruits that excel are theirs But they who have been timorous and doubtful and have deliberated in their heart whether they should confesse or deny and have suffered their fruits are smaller 116 Therefore beware ye who have such cogitations least this mind remain in you and YE DIE TO GOD ye therefore whosoever for this names sake do undergo death ought to honour the Lord that the Lord esteemes you worthy that ye may bear his Name and all your sins may be redeemed 117 Therefore do ye not rather esteem your selves happy Think ye rather if any of you suffereth him to accomplish a great work for to you the Lord giveth life nor do you understand for your failings did burthen you and unlesse ye should have suffered for the cause of this Name for your sins ye had surely been dead to God These things therefore I say to you whosoever do deliberate of confessing or of denying 118 Confesse ye therefore your selves TO HAVE THE LORD GOD least perhaps denying ye be delivered into bonds for if all the Nations punish their Servants whosoever have denied their Lord. What think ye the Lord about to do to you who hath power of all things Remove therefore from your hearts these disputations that for ever ye may LIVE TO GOD. 119 But of the TWELVTH white Mountain are such who have believed even as INFANTS sincere to whom no malice ascended over their sense nor have they known what is malice but alwayes have remain'd in sincerity Therefore this sort of men without any dubitation shall inhabit the Kingdom of God because in no businesse have they stained the commands of God but with sincerity have remained all the dayes of their life in the same tenour of sense 120 Whosoever therefore quoth he shall remain as Infants not having malice shall be more honourable then all those whom I have already spoken of FOR ALL INFANTS ARE HONOURED WITH THE LORD AND ARE ESTEEMED FIRST happy therefore ye whosoever shall remove from you malice and shall put on innocency because first ye shall see God 121 After he had finished the explanation of all the Mountains I say to him Lord now expound unto me concerning these stones who being brought out of the field into the place of the Reprobate ones were put unto the Structure of the Tower Likewise of these round stones which were added unto the Structure of the Tower and of these who as yet remained round 122 Hear quoth he of the stones these which being brought from off the field were placed into the Structure of the Tower in their place which had been reprobate are the ROOTS of that white Mountain when therefore they who of that Mountain have believed are become innocent the Lord of that Tower hath commanded these which were of the Roots of the Mountain to be put into the Structure 123 For he hath understood if they had gone to the building that they would remain shining nor would any whit of them grow black any more but if he had so added of the rest of the Mountains he had not needed again to visit that Tower and purge it But these are all white who have believed and who are about to believe for they are of the same kind happy this kind because it is innocent 124 Hear now also of these round and splendid stones all these are of this white Mountain but why they are found round the cause is because their riches have a little obscured them from the Truth and have darkned them But from God they have never departed nor hath any evil word proceeded out of their mouth but all Equity Vertue and Truth 125 The MINDE therefore of these when the Lord had seen and them to be able to favour the Truth he commanded them likewise to remain good and their riches to be circumcised for he would not have them to be for altogether taken away that they might do something of good of that which was left to them and LIVE TO GOD because also they are of the good kind Therefore for that cause are they hewn a little and put into the structure of this Tower 126 But the rest who have as yet continued round nor are found fit unto that structure because they have not yet got the SEAL are put again in their own place for they are found very round but this World must be hew'n from them and the vanities of their riches and then they shall be fit in the Kingdom of God 127 For it must needs be that they enter into the Kingdom of God for this harmlesse kind hath the Lord blessed Therefore out of this kind shall not any one perish yea even although any one of them tempted by the most wicked Devil should somewhat fail he will suddenly run back to the Lord his God 128 But happy do I the Messenger of Repentance judge you whosoever are innocent as Infants because your part is good and honoured with God but I say unto you all whosoever have got this SEAL have ye simplicity neither be ye mindful of offences nor remain ye in malice neither let bitternesses become in the Spirit of any one of you in the memory of offences but to these evil rents procure ye remedy and remove them from you that the Lord of the sheep may rejoyce concerning you 129 For he shall rejoyce if he shall find all things sound but if he shall find of such any sheep scattered wo shall be to the sheepherds but if the sheepherds themselves shall be scuttered what shall they answer to him for the sheep What will they say themselves to have been smitten by the sheep it will not be believed to them for IT IS AN INCREDIBLE THING THAT THE SHEEPHERD CAN SUFFER BY THE SHEEP and he is the rather punished for his lye
astonished and my hairs rose up and as it were a horrour ceized on me seeing I was alone But being returned to my self and having remembred the Glory of God and having taken courage having bowd my knees I confessed to God again the sins which before 4 Behold she cometh thither with six young men whom also I had seen before and she stood behind me and heard me praying and confessing unto the Lord my sins and touching me she said Leave off now to pray so much for thy sins pray also for Righteousnesse that thou mayst receive part of it in thine house 5 And she raised me up from the place and took hold of my hand and led me to the seat and she saith to these young men Go ye and build but after the youths had departed and we were alone she saith to me sit thou here I say to her Lady suffer the Elders before to sit down What I say to thee quoth she Sit thou down And when I would sit at the right side she suffered not but beckned to me with her hand that I should sit at the left side 6 But I bethinking and remaining sad that she had not suffered me to sit at the right side she saith to me Why art thou sad Hermas The place which is at the right side is theirs who already have deserved GOD and have suffered for the cause of his Name But to thee there remains much that thou mayest sit with them as thou remainest in thy simplicity remain thou and thou shalt sit with them and whosoever shall have wrought their works and shall sustain what they have sustained 7 I say unto her Lady I would know what they have sustained Hear quoth she wild Beasts Whips Prisons Crosses for the cause of his Name for this theirs are the right sides of Holinesse and whoso shall suffer for the Name of God but the rest 's are the left sides but to both of them both who at the right hand and who at the left do sit are the gifts and promises only that who sit at the right side have a certain glory but thou art desirous to sit at the right hand with them but thy infirmities are many but thou shalt be purged from thy failings but also all who shall not be doubtfull shall be made clean from all their sins unto this day 8 And when she had said these things she would go away and falling down before her at her feet I besought her by the Lord that to me she would demonstrate the fight which she had re-promised But she again took hold of my hand and lifted me up and made me to sit upon the seat at the left hand and having lifted up a certain splendent rod she saith to me Seest thou a mighty thing I say to her Lady I see nothing Behold Seest thou not over against thee a great Tower which is built upon the waters with four-corner'd stones shining 9 For in a Quadrangle was there a Tower builded by these six Youths who had come with her but others many thousands of men did bring stones but some drew forth stones from the DEEP others took them up from the EARTH and gave them to these six Youths moreover they took them and builded but those stones which were extracted out of the deep they did all place so into the structure for they were polished and convenient for commixture with other stones and so were they conjoyned one to another so that their commixtures could not appear and on this manner did the structure of the Tower appear as if builded of one stone 10 But the rest of the stones which were brought from off the earth some of them indeed they rejected but some they fitted for the structure others they hewed and did cast far from the Tower but many other stones were placed about the Tower and they did not use them for the structure for some of them were RUGGED but others had RENTS but others were WHITE and ROUND not agreeing for the structure of the Tower 11 But I saw other stones to be cast far from the Tower and tumbling into the WAY and not remaining in the way but to be rolled from the way into a desert place but others falling into the FIRE and burning others falling beside the WATER nor to be able to be rolled into the water they indeed being willing to enter into the Water 12 And when she had demonstrated unto me these things she would depart I say to her Lady what doth it profit me to have seen these things and not to know what these things are She answering said to me Thou art a cunning man willing to know these things that are about the Tower Therefore say I Lady that I may declare it to my Brethren and they may be made more chearful and hearing these things may honour the Lord with much glory 13 And she saith many indeed shall hear and when they shall hear some of them shall rejoyce but some shall weep but also they hearing if they shall act repentance they also shall rejoyce Hear now concerning the similitude of the Tower all these things and hitherto be thou not more troublesom to me concerning revelation for these revelations have an end for they are fulfilled but thou desistest not in asking revelations for thou art importunate 14 The Tower indeed which thou seest to be builded Am I the Church who have appeared to thee both now and before Whatsoever therefore thou wouldst ask thou concerning the Tower and I will reveal it to thee that thou mayest rejoyce with the Saints I say unto her Lady because thou hast once esteemed me worthy that thou mayest reveal all things to me reveal them She saith to me whatsoever must be revealed to thee so much shall be revealed that thy heart may be with the Lord and doubt thou not whatsoever thou seest 15 I asked her Why is the Tower built upon the waters Lady I had said unto thee also before thee to be subtle enquiring diligently about the structures therefore thou shalt find the Truth Why therefore the Tower is builded upon the WATERS hear thou because your life is saved by water and shall be for it is founded with the word of his omnipotent and honourable Name for it is contained by the invisible power of God I answering say to her highly do these things carry themselves 16 But these six young men that build who are they Lady These are the Angels of God who at first were constitute to whom the Lord hath delivered his universal Creature of the building edifying and ruling over his Creature for by them shall the structure of the Tower be consummate 17 But the rest that bring stones who are they They also the holy Angels of the Lord but they are more excellent then these therefore when the building of the Tower shall be accomplished they shall altogether feast beside the Tower and shall honour the Lord because the structure
of the Tower shall be finished 18 I asked her saying I would know the event of the stones and the force of them what it is but she answering said to me art thou better before all that that may be revealed to thee for others are before thee and better then thee to whom it behoved these visions to be revealed but that the Name of God may be honoured to thee it is revealed and shall be revealed because of the doubtful ones who think in their hearts whether these things be or be not say unto them that all these things are true and nothing is out of the truth but all are firm and are surely grounded 19 Hear now also of the stones that are in the structure indeed these four-corner'd-stones and white agreeing in their commixtures these are the APOSTLES and Overseers and Teachers and MINISTERS who have entred in in the clemency of God and ruled their charge and taught and ministred holily and modestly to the elect of God who have slept and who as yet are and have alwaies agreed with them and had peace in themselves and have heard themselves mutually for this also into the structure of the Tower do their commixtures agree 20 But these who are drawn out of the deep and placed into the structure and their commixtures agree with the rest of the stones which are already builded are these who already have fallen asleep and have suffered for the cause of the Name of the Lord. 21 But the rest of the stones that were brought from the earth I would know who they are Lady she saith Those indeed who go in the earth and are not polished those God hath proved because they have entred in into the Righteousnesse of the Lord and have directed their wayes in his Commandments 22 But these that are brought and are put in the structure of the Tower these are the young ones in the faith and the faithful but they are commonished by the Angels to do good for that cause there is not wickednesse found in them 23 But those whom they did reject and placed beside the Tower who are they These are they who have sinned and would do repentance for this they are not cast out far from the Tower because they shall be profitable in the structure if they shall act Repentance They therefore that are about to act Repentance if they shall do Repentance they shall be strong in the faith if now they shall act Repentance while the Tower is a building For if the structure shall be finished now any shall not have a place where he may be put but he shall be a reprobate but he onely shall have this who already is placed beside the Tower 24 But these that were hewed and thrown far from the Tower wilt thou know who they are These are the SONS OF INIQUITY and they have believed in dissimulation and all wickednesse hath not departed from them for this they have not Salvation because they are not profitable in the structure by reason of their wickednesses Wherefore they are hewn and thrown far away because of the anger of the Lord because they have stired him up 25 But the rest of the stones whom thou didst see very many placed not going into the structure these indeed were rugged These are they who have known the Truth and have neither remained in it nor have been joyned to the Saints for this cause they are unprofitable 26 But these that had rents because they have discord in their hearts one against another and have not peace among themselves In presence indeed having peace but when one shall go away from another their wickednesse remains in their hearts These therefore are the rents which the stones have 27 But those that are maimed are they who indeed believed having the most part of iniquity for this cause they are broken and not intire 28 But the white and round and not agreeing into the structure of the Tower who are they Lady She answering to me said How long hitherto art thou foolish and senselesse and ask est all things and understandest nothing These are they that have indeed faith but having also the riches of this world Therefore when tribulation shall come for their riches and negotiations they deny the Lord. 29 I answering say to her Lady when therefore shall they be profitable to the Lord when their riches quoth she shall be circumcised which delight them then shall they be profitable to the Lord unto the building For as a round stone unless it shall be hewn and cast off somewhat from it cannot be made four-corner'd so also they that are rich in this world unlesse their riches shall be circumcised they cannot be profitable to the Lord. 30 From thee first know it when thou wast rich thou wast unprofitable but now thou art profitable and fit for thy LIFE for also thou thy self wast of these stones 31 But the rest of the stones which thou didst see cast far from the Tower and running in the way and to be rolled from the way into desert places these are they who have indeed believed but with their doubting have left their own true WAY thinking themselves to be able to find a better way but they wander and are miserable entering into desert wayes 32 But these that fell into the fire and did burn are they who for ever have departed from the Living God nor doth it any more ascend into their hearts to act repentance because of the desire of their lusts and wickednesses which they work 33 But the rest which fell besides the waters and could not be rolled into the waters who are these These are they who have heard the WORD willing to be baptized in the NAME of the Lord to whom when the Sanctity of the TRUTH came into their memory they draw back themselves and do again walk after their wicked desires 34 Therefore she finished the narration of the Tower but I seeing I was obstinate asked her Whether to all these stones which were thrown away nor did agree into the structure of the Tower is there Repentance and shall they have a place in this Tower They have quoth she Repentance but in this Tower they cannot agree fitly 35 But they shall be put in another place much inferiour to this when they shall have been vexed and have fulfilled the dayes of their transgressions and for this shall they be taken up because they have received THE JUST WORD and then shall it befall them to be released from their punishments if the wicked works which they have wrought shall ascend up into their hearts but if they shall not ascend into their hearts they shall not be saved because of the hardness of their hearts 36 When therefore I left off to ask her of all these things she saith to me wilt thou see another and seeing I was desirous to see I became chearful in countenance she looking back on me smiled and saith to me Seest
contemned by all fear thou plainly the fictions of the Devil because they are malignant for fearing thou shalt fear the Lord and the works of the Devil thou shalt not do but shalt abstain thee from them 3 For fear is twofold for if thou wouldst work evil fearing the Lord that indeed thou shalt not do but if thou wouldst work good verily the fear of the Lord is strong great and glorious Therefore FEAR God and thou shalt live whosoever shall fear him keeping his Commandements their LIFE is with the Lord but of those that keep them not neither is life in them COMMAND VIII 1 I Said to thee quoth he that the creatures of God are double and ABSTINENCE is double therefore from some things it behoves to abstain but from some things not Manifest quoth I to me Lord from what things I must abstain and from what not Hear saith he from evil abstain and do not do it but from good do thou not abstain but do it for if thou shalt abstain from good and shalt not do it thou shalt sin Abstain therefore from all evil and thou shalt know all Righteousnesse 2 What wicked things are these quoth I from which I must abstain Hear saith he from Adulteries Drunkennesses and evil Riotings from too much meat from gorgeousnesse and unhonesty from pride from abnegation from lying from defaming from feigned wickednesse from remembrance of injury and from most evil fame for these are the works of iniquity from which it is needful for the servant of God to abstain for he that cannot abstain in these cannot LIVE TO GOD. 3 Hear now quoth he also the consequences of them and indeed there are many things as yet from which the Servant of God ought to abstain from theft from denying from false testimony from covetousnesse from pride and whatever are like to them These therefore seem to be evil to thee do they not Truly they are very evil to the Servants of God from all these therefore ought the servant of God to abstain 4 Abstain thou therefore from all these that thou mayest live to God and mayest be wrote with the ABSTEINERS Therefore these are they from wch thou oughtest to abstein But from which thou oughtest not to abstein Hear thou from all good works abstein not but do them Hear quoth he the vertue of the good works which thou oughtest to work that thou mayest be safe 5 The first of all is Faith the fear of the Lord Charity Concord Equity Verity Patience Chastity then these there is nothing better in the life of men who shall keep these and do them in their life Next hear their consequences To administer to Widows not to despise Orphans and poor men and to redeem the Servants of God out of necessity to be apt to entertain for in Hospitality oftentimes is found good fruit not to contradict to be quiet to become most humble of all men to respect the Elders in birth to study unto Righteousnesse to preserve brother-hood to suffer reproaches to be of a contented mind 6 Not to reject those fallen from the Faith but to make them quiet in mind to admonish the sinners not to presse the debters and if there be any thing like these These seem to thee to be good do they not For what say I is better then these words Live thou therefore in these Commandments and do not depart from them for if thou shalt keep all these Commandements thou shalt live to God and all who shall keep these Commandements shall LIVE TO GOD. COMMAND IX 1 AGain he said to me remove from thee DOVBTING and nothing at all shalt thou doubt asking any thing from the Lord say not within thee But how can I seek any thing from the Lord and obtein Seeing I am a sinner of such great evils against the Lord Do not think this but from thy whole heart be converted to the Lord Ask without doubting and thou shalt know the tender mercy of the Lord that thee he will not forsake but shall fulfill the petition of thy Soul 2 For God is not like men mindful of injuries but he is unmindful of injuries and he hath compassion on his handy-work Purge therefore thine heart from all the vices of this world and observe the predicted words given to thee by God and thou shalt receive all the good things which thou askest and of all thy petitions nothing shall be wanting to thee if without doubting thou shalt ask of the Lord. 3 Who therefore are not such they obtein not at all any thing of these which they ask for whoso are full of Faith they ask all things believing and they receive of the Lord because without DOVBTING they ask for every doubting man if he shall not do repentance shall difficultly LIVE TO GOD. 4 Purifie therefore thine heart from doubting and put on faith and believe God and all things which thou askest shalt thou obtein but if sometimes thou askest a petition dost not get it do not doubt because thou gettest not quickly the petition of thy Soul for perhaps because of tentation or for thy sin which thou art ignorant of thou shalt more slowly get thy petition but do not thou desist in seeking the petition of thy Soul and thou shalt get it but if thou ceasest in asking complain of thy self and not of God that he hath not given it thee 5 See therefore this DOUBTING how pernicious it is and fierce and many by the roots it plucks up from the Faith even very faithful and firm ones for why this doubting is the Daughter of the Devil and very wickedly dealeth she with the Servants of God Contemn therefore doubting and thou shalt rule over her in every thing put on firm and potent faith for faith promiseth all things and accomplisheth all things but doubting doth not believe it self about to obtein any thing in all its works which it doth 6 Thou seest therefore quoth he That faith is from above from God and hath great power but dubitation is an earthly Spirit and from the Devil not having power Keep thou therefore the vertue of faith but from doubting depart thou which hath not vertue and thou shalt live to God and they shall all LIVE TO GOD whosoever shall do these things COMMAND X. 1 DRive far from thee all SADNESSE for she is the sister of doubting and wrath How quoth I Lord is she the Sister of these Sadnesse seems to me one thing another wrath another doubting And he saith without sense thou understandest not for sadnesse of all Spirits is the most wicked and worst to the Servants of God and it destroyeth all their Spirits and vexeth the holy Spirit and again makes it whole 2 I am foolish quoth I Lord and understand not these questions how it can vex and again make whole I understand not Hear quoth he and understand They who never sought out the Truth nor inquired of its Majesty but onely believed they are
involved in the employments and riches of the Heathen men and another is a lying Prophet who destroys the senses of the Servants of God but not of these doubtful ones who trust in the Lord fully 3 Therefore these doubtful ones come as to a Divine and ask him what is about to befall them and that lying Prophet having none of the power of the divine Spirit in him speaketh to them according to their asking and fills their souls with promises even as they would but that PROPHET is empty and answereth empty things to the empty for whatsoever is asked him of vain men he will answer them vain things 4 But some words he speaketh true for the Devil filleth him with his Spirit that he may cast down some of the just whosoever therefore are strong in the faith of the Lord and are cloathed with the TRUTH to such Spirits they are not joyned but depart from them but as many as are doubtful and thenceforth act Repentance they consult even as the Heathens and heap up very great sin to themselves serving IDOLS 5 Whosoever therefore are such they ask for any businesse they worship images and are fools and empty from the TRUTH for EVERY SPIRIT GIVEN OF GOD IS NOT ASKED but having the vertue of the Divinity from it self speaketh all things because it is from above from the power of the divine Spirit but whoso being asked speaketh according to the desire and of many other things of this world they of this sort understand not the questions of the DIVINITY for they are darkned by these businesses and are corrupted and broken 6 As good vines that are neglected by weeds and thorns are pressed and killed so also the men who have credited such they have fallen into many businesses and actions and are made empty from their FEELING and understand nothing at all thinking about riches but if at any time they shall hear of the Lord their SENSE is in their businesses but they that have the fear of the Lord and search out from God the Truth they have every thought unto the Lord all things that are spoken to them they perceive because they have the fear of the Lord in them for WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IN HABITETH THERE also IS adjoyned MUCH FEELING adjoyn thy self therefore to the Lord and thou shalt understand and perceive all things 7 Hear now O unwise after what manner SADNESSE vexeth the holy Spirit and how it makes it whole when a DOUBTFUL one shall fall into any businesse and it doth not succeed to him because of dubitation this sorrow entreth into the man and MAKETH SAD THE HOLY SPIRIT and vexeth it after that again when WRATH shall happen to a man for any businesse he is vehemently enraged and this wrath entreth in into the inward parts of him that is angry and he is vexed in his businesse which he doth and after that repenteth him that he hath done evilly 8 Therefore both these things hurt the holy spirit DOUBTING and SADNESSE Doubting because his action succeeded not and Sadnesse because he caused wrath to his SPIRIT remove sorrow therefore from thee AND DO NOT THOU OFFEND THE HOLY SPIRIT WHICH DWELETH IN THEE LEAST IT intreat the Lord and DEPART from thee for the spirit of the Lord which is given into the FLESH indureth not sadnesse 9 Cloath thee therefore with chearfulnesse which alwaies hath favour with the Lord and thou shalt be joyful in it for every chearful man worketh well and savoureth good things and dispiseth unrighteousnesse But a sorrowful man doth evilly because he maketh sad the holy Spirit which is given to the chearful man and again he doth evil in that the sorrowful man intreats the Lord and doth not before make confession and he obtaineth not of God what he asketh for alwaies the prayer of the sorrowful man hath not the force that it may approach the ALTAR of God 10 And I said to him Lord why hath not the prayer of the sorrowful man the power to ascend to the Altar of the Lord Because heavinesse sitteth in his heart Therefore when the prayer of a man shall be mixed with sorrow it will not suffer the prayer to ascend pure to the ALTAR of God for as Wine mixed with Vinegar hath not the same sweetnesse so also heavinesse mixed with the holy Spirit hath not the same prayer clean Therefore cleanse thee from evil sadnesse and thou shalt live to God and they shall all LIVE TO GOD who shall cast away from themselves sadnesse and shall put on chearfulnesse COMMAND XI 1 HE shewed me men sitting on seats and one sitting in a Chaire and he said to me Seest thou those who sit on benches I see them Lord quoth I These are the Faithful and he that sitteth in the Chair is the TERRESTRIALL SPIRIT For into the Church of the men it approacheth not but flyeth away but it applieth it self to the DOUBTFUL ones and empty and in corners and hidden places it divineth to them and it delighteth them in speaking according to all the desires of their heart 2 For what is committed to empty vessels doth not run over but they agree one to another but when it shall come into the company of just men having the SPIRIT of the Divinity and their prayer is to the Lord that man is frustated because that Terestrial Spirit flyeth from him and he becometh dumb nor can speak any thing 3 As in a CELLAR if thou shalt cover Wine or Oyl and amongst these vessels shalt put an empty vessel and again wouldest take off the covering that vessel which thou didst put thou shalt find empty So also EMPTY PROPHETS when they shall come among the spirit of just men such as they come such are they found 4 Thou hast the life of both the Prophets try therefore by life and works the man that saith himself to have the holy Spirit but believe thou the Spirit coming from God having vertue but to the earthly empty spirit which is from the Devil in which there is not faith nor power do not give credit 5 Hear therefore a Similitude which I am about to tell thee Take a stone and cast it toward Heaven Or again take a squirt of water and squirt it out towards Heaven and see if thou canst smite the Heaven How quoth I Lord can these things be For both these which thou hast spoken cannot be done even as therefore these cannot be done So the Terrestrial spirit is without power and without effect 6 Take now the power coming down from above in this similitude The hail is the least grain and when it falls upon the head of a man how doth it bring griefs Or again look on the drop of rain which from the eaves falls on the earth and makes hollow the stone So therefore the least things which from above fall upon the earth have great power Adjoyn thee therefore to this man having the POWER and from that empty one
depart thou COMMAND XII 1 AGain he said to me remove from thee all evil DESIRE and put on the good and holy desire for having put on the good desire Thou shalt hate the evil and shalt refrain it even as thou wouldest For evil desire is to be abhored and it is difficultly mitigated it is very horrible and wild and with its wildnesse consumeth men especially if into it a servant of God shall fall and unlesse he shall be wise he shall be consumed by it badly 2 But it consumeth such who have not the cloathing of the good desire and it involves them in the businesses of this World and delivers them to death What are the works Lord quoth I of the evil desire which deliver men up to DEATH Demonstrate unto me that I may depart from them Hear saith he in what works evil desire delivers the servants of God to death The spirit of all men is earthly and light and hath not power at all and speaketh many things And I said how then can any know them 3 Hear quoth he of both the VESSELS and as I say to thee so shalt thou try the Prophet of God and the false prophet First so prove the man THAT HATH THE SPIRIT OF GOD because the spirit which is from above is quiet and humble and it departeth from ALL wickednesse and the vain desire of this World and maketh it self more humble then every man AND ANSWERETH TO NO MAM BEING ASKED nor doth it answer to all men NEITHER WHEN MAN WILL DOTH THE SPIRIT OF GOD SPEAK but then it speaketh when God will 4 Therefore WHEN A MAN WHO HATH THE SPIRIT OF GOD SHALL COME INTO THE CHURCH OF JUST MEN having the faith of God and prayer is made to God then THE holy MESSENGER OF the DIVINITY FILLETH THAT MAN WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HE SPEAKETH IN THE THRONG AS GOD WILL So therefore is the spirit of Divinity known in whomsoever the spirit of Divinity speaketh 5 Hear now also of the TERRESTRIALL SPIRIT empty and foolish not having power But first a man is conceived to have this spirit for he exalteth himself and WILL HAVE THE UPPERMOST CHAIR and he is wicked and talkative and converseth in delights and in many pleasures and TAKETH THE REWARD OF HIS DIVINATION WHICH IF HE SHALL NOT GET HE DOTH NOT DIVINE Can the Spirit of God take rewards thus and Divine it doth not beseem the Prophet of God to do these things 6 But EVIL DESIRE is to covet anothers wife or a woman to covet anothers husband and to covet the sumptuousnesse of riches and the multitude of superfluous meats and much drunkennesse and many pleasures for many delights are foolish and many pleasures are superfluous to the servants of God Therefore this evil desire is pernitious which deadneth the servants of God for this desire is of the Devil 7 Therefore whosoever shall depart from evil desire they shall LIVE TO GOD for whosoever shall be subjected to evil desire shall die for ever for this evil desire is mortiferous 8 Thou therefore put on the desire of righteousnesse and armed with the fear of the Lord resist the evil desire for fear dwelleth in the good desire and the evil desire when it shall see thee armed with the fear of the Lord resisting it it shall flie far from thee and shall not appear before thee fearing thy weapons and thou shalt obtain the victory and thou shalt be crowned because of her and attaining unto the good desire and thou shalt give the victory to God which thou hast gotten and shalt serve him in working as thou thy self wouldest 9 But if thou shalt serve the good desire and shalt be subject unto it thou shalt be able to rule over the evil desire and it shall be subjected to thee even as thou wouldest 10 I would know Lord how I ought to serve the GOOD DESIRE Hear quoth he have thou the fear of God and faith in God and love the Truth and love the Righteousnesse and do good These things working thou shalt be a proved servant of the Lord and shalt serve to God and all whosoever shall serve the Good desire shall LIVE TO GOD. 11 These twelve Commands being finished He said to me Thou hast these Commands walk in them and exhort the men that hear them that they do repentance and their repentance shall be made pure the rest of the dayes of their life And this Ministry which to thee I give unfold thou diligently and thou shalt attain much fruit and shalt find favour with all those who shall Act Repentance and shall believe thy words for I am with thee and will constrain them to believe 12 And I said to him Lord these commands are great and excellent and they are able to make glad the heart of that man who shall be able to keep these Commands But I know not Lord whether these Commandments can be kept by man He saith to me these commands thou shalt easily keep and they shall not be hard 13 But notwithstanding if thou shalt affirm in thine heart that they cannot be kept by man thou shalt not keep them But now I say unto thee if thou shalt not keep these Commandments and shalt omit them thou shalt not be saved nor thy sons nor thine house because thy self hast judged that these Commands cannot be kept by man 14 These things he spoke to me vehemently angry so that he terrified me greatly for he had changed his countenance so that man could not be able to sustain his wrath And when he had beheld me all disturbed and confounded he began to speak more moderately and chearfully saying 15 O Foolish and unsensible Inconstant and ignorant of the Majesty of God how great how admirable is it who hath Created the world for man and subjected every Creature to man and hath given him ALL POWER THAT HE MAY HAVE DOMINION OVER THESE COMMANDMENTS he can have Dominion quoth he over all these Commands WHO HATH THE LORD IN HIS HEART but they who have the Lord in their lips and their heart is benumbed these are far from the Lord to them these Commands are hard and difficult 16 Therefore propose unto your selves ye that are empty and light in the faith TO HAVE THE LORD YOUR GOD IN THE HEART And ye shall understand that nothing is more easie then these Commands nor more sweet nor more gentle nor more holy and convert you to the Lord God and forsake the Devil and his pleasures because they are evil and bitter and unclean and fear ye not the devil because in you he hath no power for I am with you the MESSENGER OF REPENTANCE who rule over him but the Devil causeth fear but the fear of him is vain Therefore do not ye fear him and he shall fly from you 17 And I said to him Lord hear me speaking a few words to thee Speak quoth he Man indeed desireth to keep the Commands of God and
delivered by their hands have been cloathed with the power of them And therefore thou seest the whole Tower agreeing with the Rock and made as it were out of one stone 65 So likewise they who have believed God through his Son have put on this spirit behold there shall be one spirit and one body and one colour of their garments But also they shall attain these who shall carry the names of these Virgins 66 And I said why therefore Lord are the stones thrown away which were reprobated seeing also they were translated through the Gate and delivered by the hands of these Virgins into the structure of this Tower Because quoth he thou takest care to inquire all things diligently Here concerning these stones which were cast away 67 All these have got the name of the son of God but also and the power of these Virgins Therefore having got these spirits they were perfected and brought in the number of the servants of God and one body of them began to be and one vesture For the same righteousness did they feel which they did alike excercise 68 But after that they had seen these women whom thou perceivedst first clothed with a black garment with naked shoulders and loosned hair they lusted to solicite them because of their beauty and they were indued with their power but the cloathings of the Virgins they have cast off These therefore are thrown out from the house of God and delivered to these women but these that are not corrupted through their beauty have remained in the house of God Thou hast quoth he the explication of these stones which were abjected 69 And I said if therefore Lord any of the men which are of this sort shall do repentance and shall throw away the desire of these women and being converted shall return to the Virgins and shall put on their power shall they not enter into the house of the Lord They shall enter quoth he if they shall cast off all the works of these women and shall resume the power of these Virgins and in their works shall walk And therefore is there made an intermission of building that if these shall do repentance they may be added into the structure of the Tower but if they shall not do repentance others shall be builded in their place and then they shall be thrown away together 70 For all these things I gave thanks to the Lord that over all in whom his Name was invo'kt being mov'd with clemency he should send the President Messenger of Repentance unto us who have offended him and that he should renew our Spirits now surely decaying nor having hope of Salvation but now he recreateth them unto the renewing of life 71 And I said now Lord demonstrate to me why this Tower is builded not upon on the Earth but upon the Rock and Gate Because quoth he thou art unwise and without understanding therefore thou askest And I said I have need Lord to ask thee all things because I understand nothing at all for all thy answers are great and excellent and which men can scarcely understand 72 Here saith he the Name of the Son of God is great and mighty and by it the WHOLE WORLD IS SUSTEINED if then quoth I every Creature of God is susteined by his Son why doth he not also sustein those who are invited by him and bear his Name and in his Commandments do walk Seest thou not also quoth he that he susteineth those who from their whole hearts carry his NAME Therefore he is their foundation and willingly doth bear them who deny not his Name but willingly sustein him 73 And I said demonstrate to me Lord the names of these Virgins and of these women who were cloathed with a black vesture Hear quoth he the names of the Virgins that are more powerful who obteined the corners of the gate are these The first is called FAITH the second ABSTINENCE the third POWER the fourth PATIENCE but the rest which consist below these are called by these names Simplicity Innocency Chastity Chearfulnesse Truth Wisdom Concord Charity Therefore whosoever bear these names and the Name of the Son of God they shall be able to enter into Gods Kingdom 74 Hear now the names of the women who are cloathed with black cloathing and of these four are more powerful of whom the first is called TREACHERY the second INTEMPERANCE the third UNBELIEF the fourth VOLUPTUOUSNESSE but the followers of these are so called Sadnesse Malice Lust Wrath Lying Folly Puffing up Hatred The Servant of God that beareth these Spirits shall indeed see the Kingdom of God but shall not enter into it 75 But these stones Lord which from the deep were fitted in the structure who are they The TEN quoth he which were placed in the foundations is the first age The following TWENTY FIVE is the second age of just men but these THIRTY are the Prophets of the Lord and Ministers but the FORTY are the Apostles and teachers of the Preaching of the Son of God 76 And I said why therefore Lord did these Virgins also hold forth these stones unto the structure of the Tower translated through the Port And he said for these first have born these spirits and they have not at all departed one from another nor the spirits from the men nor the men from the spirits but these spirits have been joyned to them even untill the day of their rest who except they had had these spirits with them they had not been profitable to the structure of this Tower 77 And I said also now Lord demonstrate to me what seekest thou saith he why quoth I ascended these stones out of the deep and were placed into the building of this Tower Seeing long ago they carri'd the just spirits It must needs be quoth he that by WATER they have to ascend that they may rest for they could not otherwise enter into the Kingdome of God then that they should lay down the mortality of the former life 78 Therefore they being dead were sealed with the SEAL of the Son of God and have entered into the Kingdom of God For before that a man get the name of the Son of God he is designed for death but as soon as he hath got the Seal he is freed from death and delivered to life But that seal is WATER into which men descend being bound unto death but they ascend assigned to life And to them therefore is preached that seal and they have used it that they might enter into the Kingdome of God 79 And I said Therefore why Lord did these forty stones ascend with them from the deep having already that seal And he said because these Apostles and Teachers who have preached the name of the Son of God when having his faith and power they had died They preached to these who had died before them and they gave to them that Seal Therefore they descended into the water with them and again they ascended
But these ascended alive but they who were deceased before descended indeed dead but ascended alive 80 Therefore by them they received life and knew the Son of God and therefore they ascended with them and agreed into the structure of the Tower neither hewed but they were builded intire because being full of righteousnesse they deceased with great chastity but only this seal was wanting to them Thou hast the explanation of these 81 And I said now again Lord also demonstrate to me concerning these Mountains why they are diverse and of one and of another figure Hear quoth he These TVVELVE MOUNTAINS whom thou seest are twelve Nations which obtain the whole world Therefore the Son of God was preached in them by those whom he sent unto them But why they are various and of one and of another figure Hear thou 82 These twelve generations which obtain the whole world are twelve Nations And as thou sawest all the Mountains diverse so also these Nations The senses likewise and the acts of every Mountain I will teach thee 83 First quoth I Lord demonstrate this to me since these Mountains are so various by what manner shall they agree into the structure of this Tower and be brought to one colour and be no less shining then these that ascended out of the deep Because saith he all the Nations which are under Heaven have heard and believed and are called by the one Name of the Son of God Therefore having gotten his Seal they have all got the same prudence and the same understanding and the faith and charity of them is one and the spirits of these Virgins with his Name did they bear 84 And therefore the structure of this Tower did seem alike in colour and did shine even unto the Suns clearness But after they have so understood there began to be one body of them all Notwithstanding certain of them stained themselves and have been cast from the generation of the just and again have returned to their former stare and also have become worse then before 85 How quoth I Lord worse who have known the Lord And he said he indeed who knoweth not the Lord if he live wickedly he remains in that punishment of his wickednesse but he who knows the Lord ought altogether to abstein from all wickednesse and more and mor serve unto goodnesse seems not he therefore who ought to follow goodnesse if he esteem parts of wickednesse to sin more than he who hath failed being ignorant of the power of God 86 And therefore these indeed are destinate to death but these who have known the Lord and his wonders and works have seen if they live wickedly they shall be punished more by the double and they shall dye for ever As therefore thou didst see after the stones were cast out from the Tower which were reprobated they were delivered to pernicious and evil Spirits and so thou sawest the Tower purified so that it would have been believed to be all of one stone 87 So also the Church of God when it shall be purified the evil and the feigned the wicked and dubious being cast out of it and whosoever have carried themselves wickedly in it and the divers kinds of the wickednesse of sinners it 's body shall be one intellect one sense one one faith and charity the same and then the Son of God shall be joyful among them and shall receive with a pure desire his people 88 And I said Lord magnificently and honourably all these things carry themselves now demonstrate to me the effect and force of every sort of mountain that every soul trusting in the Lord these being heard may honour his great and admirable and holy NAME Hear quoth he the truth of these Mountains that is of TWELVE NATIONS 89 In the FIRST black Mountain they who have believed are the fugitives and those that speak hainous things against the Lord and the betrayers of the Servants of God to them is appointed death repentance is not and therefore they are black because their kind is wicked 90 But of the SECOND rough Mountain are the feigned who have believed and are the Teachers of wickednesse and these are next to the former not having among themselves the fruit of equity for as their Mountain is barren and without fruit so also this sort of men have indeed a name but from faith are empty nor is there in them any fruit of the Truth yet to these is given Repentance if swiftly they follow it but if they delay they also shall be consorts of the death of the former 91 Why quoth I Lord is there indeed an accesse for them unto Repentance but to the former not for the trespasses of them are almost the same Therefore quoth he is there to these returning through Repentance to Life because they have spoken nothing hanous against their Lord nor have been betrayers of the Servants of God but through a certain covetousness of having have deceived men leading them according to the lusts of those that sin therefore shall they give a certain payment of that thing but yet to them is offered Repentance who have spoken nothing hainous against the Lord. 92 But of the THIRD Mountain which had thorns and thistles are such who have believed some rich but some hindred by many imployments for the thistles are riches but the thorns they who are cumbred with many businesses These therefore who are hindred by many businesses and various affairs do not adjoyn themselves to the Servants of God but wander away being called back by these imployments by which they are choaked 93 Also and these who are rich they do with difficulty give themselves unto the conversation of Gods Servants fearing least any thing be required of them these therefore difficultly shall enter into the Kingdom of God for as with unshod feet men walk difficultly in thistles so also it is difficult for this sort of men to enter into the Kingdom of God 94 But also to all these is regresse granted unto Repentance if swiftly they shall return unto it that because in their former dayes they have ceased from work having renewed the time they may be able to do something of good therefore repentance being acted if they shall do the works of goodnesse they shall live but if in their transgressions they shall remain they shall be delivered to these women who will take away life from them 95 But of the FOURTH Mountain having very much herbs whose upper part was green but the very roots withered also some touched by the heat of the Sun did wither of this sort are certain doubtful ones who have believed and certain others carrying the Lord in their lips NOT IN THEIR HEART and therefore they are withered and their herbs having no foundation for onely in words they live but their works are dead These therefore are nor dead nor alive and they are likewise doubtful for these doubtful ones are neither green nor withered that