The Second Part of The Book of Hermas, Called His Commands.

[Anne Terri]

“GOD'S LIVING BIBLE ---- THE THIRD TESTAMENT ----- RESEARCH LIBRARY ©
...
Forbidden Books of The Original New Testament

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God Speaking To Anne Terri Through The Holy Spirit: These sections are for research purposes only. There are additions added here, which in no way represent that which I Taught Through Jesus, reflect actual Commandments, or What is being Chosen by Me for The Third Testament-God's New Revelations, and much has been written here to force The New Testament to match with The Old Testament, and The House of David. However there are certain bright Lights within these Gospels, as with the parts on young Mary and young Jesus.

AMEN"

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THE SECOND PART OF THE BOOK OF HERMAS, CALLED HIS
COMMANDS.

Introduction.

WHEN I had prayed at home, and was sat down upon the bed, a certain man came in to me with a reverend look, in the habit of a Shepherd, clothed with a white cloak, having his bag upon his back, and his staff in his hand, and saluted me.

2 I returned his salutation, and immediately he sat down by me, and said
unto me, I am sent by that venerable messenger, that I should dwell with
thee all the remaining days of thy life.

3 But I thought that he was come to try me, and said unto him, Who are
you? For I know to whom I am committed. He said unto me, Do you not
know me? I answered no. I am, said he, that shepherd to whose care you are
delivered.

4 Whilst he was yet speaking, his shape was changed; and when I knew that
it was he to whom I was committed, I was ashamed, and a sudden fear
came upon me, and I was utterly overcome with sadness, because I had
spoken so foolishly unto him.

5 But he said unto me, Be not ashamed, but receive strength in thy mind,
through the commands which I am about to deliver unto thee. For, said he, I
am sent to show unto thee all those things again, which thou hast seen
before, but especially such of them as may be of most use unto thee.


Next: Commands I - IV

[Anne Terri]

The Second Part of The Book of Hermas, Called His Commands.

COMMANDS I - IV

p 354

COMMAND I.

Of believing in one God.
FIRST of all believe that there is one God who created and brought all
things out of nothing into existence.

2 He comprehends all things, and is only INFINITE, not to be
comprehended by any.
3 Who can neither be defined by any words, nor conceived by the mind.

4 Therefore believe in him, and fear him; and fearing him abstain from all
evil.

5 Keep these things, and cast all lust and iniquity far from thee, and put on
righteousness, and thou shalt live to God, if thou shalt keep his commandment.

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p 355

COMMAND II.

That we must avoid detraction, and do our alms-deeds with simplicity.
HE said unto me, Be innocent and without disguise; so shalt thou be like an
infant who knows no malice which destroys the life of man.

2 Especially see that thou speak evil of none, nor willingly hear any one
speak evil of others.

3 For if thou observest not this, thou also who hearest shall be partaker of
the sin of him that speaketh evil, by believing the slander, and thou also
shalt have sin, because thou believedst him that spoke evil of thy brother.

4 Detraction is a pernicious thing; an inconstant, evil spirit; that never
continues in peace, but is always in discord. Wherefore refrain thyself from
it, and keep peace ever more with thy brother.

5 Put on an holy constancy, in which there are no sins, but all is full of joy;
and do good of thy labours.

6 Give without distinction to all that are in want, not doubting to whom
thou givest.

7 But give to all, for God will have us give to all, of all his own gifts. They
therefore that receive shall give an account to God, both wherefore they
received and for what end.

8 And they that receive without real need, shall give an account for it; but
he that gives shall be innocent.

9 For he has fulfilled his duty as he received it from God; not making any
choice to whom he should give, and to whom not. And this service he did
with simplicity and to the glory of God.

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10 Keep therefore this command according as I have delivered it into thee:
that thy repentance nay be found to be sincere, and that good may come to
thy house; and have a pure heart.

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COMMAND III.


Of avoiding lying, and the repentance of Hermas for his dissimulation.
MOREOVER he said unto me love truth; and let all the speech be true
which proceeds out of thy mouth.

2 That the spirit which the Lord hath given to dwell in thy flesh may be
found true towards all men; and the Lord be glorified, who hath given such
a spirit unto thee: because God is true in all his words, and in him there is
no lie.

3 They therefore that lie, deny the Lord, and become robbers of the Lord,
not rendering to God what they received from him.

4 For they received the spirit free from lying: If therefore they make that a
liar, they defile what was committed to them by the Lord, and become
deceivers.

5 When I heard this, I wept bitterly; and when he saw me weeping, he said
unto me, Why weepest thou? And I said, Because, sir, I doubt whether I
can be saved.

6 He asked me, Wherefore? I replied, Because, sir, I never spake a true
word in my life; but always lived in dissimulation, and affirmed a lie for
truth to all men; and no man contradicted me, but all gave credit to my
words. How then can I live, seeing I have done in this manner?

7 And he said unto me, Thou thinkest well and truly; for thou oughtest, as
the servant of God, to have walked in the truth, and not have joined an evil
conscience with the spirit of truth, nor have grieved the holy and true Spirit
of God.

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8 And I replied unto him, Sir, I never before hearkened so diligently to
these things. He answered, Now thou hearest them Take care from
henceforth, that even those things which thou hast formerly spoken falsely
for the sake of thy business, may, by thy present truth receive pardon.

9 For even those things may be forgiven, if for the time to come thou shalt
speak the truth; and by so doing thou mayest attain unto life.

10 And whosoever shall hearken unto this command, and do it, and shall
depart from all lying, he shall live unto God.

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COMMAND IV.

Of putting away one's wife for adultery

FURTHERMORE, said he, I command thee, that thou keep thyself chaste;
and that thou suffer not any thought of any other marriage, or of
fornication, to enter into thy heart; for such a thought produces great sin.

2 But be thou at all times mindful of the Lord, and thou shalt never sin. For
if such an evil thought should arise in thy heart, then thou shall be guilty of
a great sin; and they who do such things, follow the way of death.

3 Look therefore to thyself, and keep thyself from such a thought; for
where chastity remains in the heart of a righteous man, there an evil
thought ought never to arise.

4 And I said unto him, Sir, suffer me to speak a little to you. He bade me
say on. And I answered, Sir, if a man that is faithful in the Lord shall have a
wife, and shall catch her in adultery; doth a man sin that continues to live
still with her?

5 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

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her sin, and partake with her in her adultery.

6 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 doth commit adultery.

7 And I said, What, if the woman that is so put away, should 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; for he ought to receive the
offender, if she repents: only not often.

8 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.

9 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.

10 But it is therefore commanded that both the man and the woman should
remain unmarried, because such persons may repent.

11 Nor do I in this administer any occasion for the doing of these things;
but rather that whoso has offended, should not offend any more.

12 But for their former sins, God who has the power of healing will give a
remedy; for he has the power of all things.

13 I asked him again, and said, Seeing the Lord hath thought me worthy
that thou shouldest dwell with me continually, speak a few words unto me,
because I understand nothing, and my heart is hardened through my former
conversation; and open my understanding because I am very dull, and

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apprehend nothing at all.

14 And he answering said unto me, I am the minister of repentance, and
give understanding to all that repent. Does it not seem to thee to be a very
wise thing to repent? Because he that does so gets great understanding.

15 For he is sensible that he hath sinned and done wickedly in the sight of
the Lord, and he remembers within himself that he has offended, and
repents and does no more wickedly, but does that which is good, and
humbles his soul and afflicts it, because he has offended. You see therefore
that repentance is great wisdom.

16 And I said unto him, For this cause, sir, I inquire diligently into all
things, because I am a sinner, that I may know what I must do that I may
live; because my sins are many.

17 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.

18 And I said unto him, I have even now heard from certain teachers, that
there is no other repentance beside 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.

19 And he said unto me, Thou hast been rightly informed. Never- the-less
seeing now thou inquirest 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 to those who have already believed in the Lord.

20 For neither they who have newly believed, or shall hereafter believe,
have any repentance of sins, but forgiveness of them.

21 But as to those who have been called to the faith, and since that are
fallen into any gross sin, the Lord hath appointed repentance, because God
knoweth the thoughts of all men's hearts, and their infirmities, and the

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manifold wickedness of the devil, who is always contriving something
against the servants of God, and maliciously lays snares for them.

22 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 one repentance. But if he shall often sin and
repent, it shall not profit such a one; for he shall hardly live unto God.

23 And I said, Sir, I am restored again to life since I have thus diligently
hearkened to these commands. For I perceive that if I shall not hereafter
add any more of my sins, I shall be saved.

24 And he said, Thou shalt be saved: and so shall all others, as many as
shall observe these commandments.

25 And again I said unto him, Sir, seeing thou hearest me patiently, show
me yet one thing more. Tell me, saith he, what it is.

26 And I said, If a husband or a wife die, and the party which survives
marry again, does 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 before the Lord.

27 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 delivered unto
thee, and dwell in thy house.

28 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.

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NEXT PAGE; COMMAND V-   TO BE CONTINUED

[Anne Terri]

The Second Part of The Book of Hermas, Called His Commands.

COMMANDS V- IX

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p. 361

COMMAND V.
Of the sadness of the heart, and of patience.

p.362

Be patient, says he, and long- suffering; so shalt thou have dominion over
all wicked works, and shall fulfil all righteousness.

2 For if thou shalt be patient, the Holy Spirit which dwelleth in thee shall
be pure, and not be darkened by any evil spirit; but being full of joy shall be
enlarged, and feast in the body in which it dwells, and serve the Lord with
joy, and in great peace.

3 But if any anger shall overtake thee, presently the Holy Spirit which is in
thee will be straightened and seek to depart from thee.

4 For he is choked by the evil spirit, and has not the liberty of serving the
Lord as he would; for he is grieved by anger. When, therefore, both these
spirits dwell together, it is destructive to a man.

5 As if one should take a little wormwood, and put it into a vessel of honey,
the whole honey would be spoiled; and a great quantity of honey is
corrupted by a very little wormwood, and loses the sweetness of honey, and
is no longer acceptable to its Lord because the whole honey is made bitter,
and loses its use.

6 But if no wormwood be put into the honey, it is sweet and profitable to its
Lord. Thus is forbearance sweeter than honey, and profitable to the Lord
who dwelleth in it.

7 But anger is unprofitable. If therefore anger shall be mixed with
forbearance, the soul is distressed, and its prayer is not profitable with God.
8 And I said unto him, Sir, I would know the sinfulness of anger, that I may
keep myself from it. And he said unto me, Thou shall know it; and if thou
shalt not keep thyself from it, thou shalt lose thy hope with all thy house.
Wherefore depart from it.

9 For I the messenger of righteousness am with thee, and all that depart
from it: as many as shall repent with all their hearts, shall live unto God;
and I will be with them, and will keep them all.

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10 For all such as have repented have been justified by the most holy
messenger, who is a minister of salvation.

11 And now, says he, hear the wickedness of anger; how evil and hurtful is
is, and how it overthrows the servants of God; for it cannot hurt those that
are full of faith because the power of God is with them; but it overthrows
the doubtful, and those that are destitute of faith.

12 For as often as it sees such men, it casts itself into their hearts; and so a
man or woman is in bitterness for nothing: for the things of life, or for
sustenance, or for a vain word, if any should chance to fall in; or by reason
of any friend, or for a debt, or for any other superfluous things of the like
nature.

13 For these things are foolish, and superfluous, and vain to the servants of
God. But equanimity is strong, and forcible; and of great power, and sitteth
in great enlargement; is cheerful, rejoicing in peace; and glorifying God at
all times I with meekness.

14 And this long-suffering dwells with those that are full of faith. But anger
is foolish, and light, and empty. Now bitterness is bred through folly; by
bitterness, anger; by anger, fury; and this fury arising from so many evil
principles, worketh a great and incurable sin.

15 For when all these things, are in the same man in which the Holy Spirit
dwells, the vessel cannot contain them, but runs over: and because the
Spirit being tender cannot tarry with the evil one; it departs and dwells with
him that is meek.

16 When, therefore, it is departed from the man in whom it dwelt, that man
becomes destitute of the Holy Spirit, and is afterwards filled with wicked
spirits, and is blinded with evil thoughts. Thus doth it happen to all angry
men.

17 Wherefore depart then from anger, and put on equanimity, and resist:
wrath; so then shalt be found with modesty and chastity by God. Take good

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heed, therefore, that thou neglect not this commandment.

.18. For if thou shalt obey this command, then thou shalt also be able to
observe the other commandments which I shall command thee.

19 Wherefore strengthen thyself now in these commands, that then mayest
live unto God. And whosoever shall observe these commandments shall
live unto God.

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COMMAND VI.

That every man has two angels and of the suggestions of both.
I COMMANDED thee, said he, in my first commandments, that thou
shouldst keep faith and fear, and repentance. Yes, sir, said I.

2 He continued. But now I will shew thee the virtues of these commands,
that then mayest know their effects; how they are prescribed alike to the
just and unjust.

3 Do thou therefore believe the righteous, but give no credit to the
unrighteous. For righteousness keepeth the right way, but unrighteousness
the wicked way.

4 Do thou therefore keep the right way, and leave that which is evil. For the
evil way has not a good end, but hath many stumbling- blocks; it is rugged
and full of thorns, and leads to destruction; and it is hurtful to all such as
walk in it.

5 But they who go in the right way walk with evenness, and without
offence; because it is not rough nor thorny.

6 Thou seest therefore how it is best to walk in this way. Thou shalt
therefore go, says he, and all others, as many as believe in God with all
their heart, shall go through it.

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7 And now, says he, I understand first of all what belongs to faith. There
are two angels with man; one of righteousness, the other of iniquity.

8 And I said unto him, Sir, how shall I know that there are two such angels
with man? Hear, says he, and understand.

9 The angel of righteousness, is mild and modest, and gentle, and quiet.
When, therefore, he gets into thy heart, immediately he talks with thee of
righteousness, of modesty, of chastity, of bountifulness, of forgiveness, of
charity, and piety.

10 When all these things come into thy heart, know then that the angel of
righteousness is with thee. Wherefore hearken to this angel and to his
works.

11 Learn also the works of the angel of iniquity. He is first of all bitter, and
angry, and foolish; and his works are pernicious, and overthrow the
servants of God. When therefore these things come into thine heart; thou
shalt know by his works, that this is the angel of iniquity.

12 And I said unto him, Sir, how shall I understand these things? Hear, says
he, and understand; When anger overtakes thee, or bitterness, know that he
is in thee:

13 As also, when the desire of many things, and of the best meats, and of
drunkenness; when the love of what belongs to others, pride, and much
speaking, and ambition; and the like things, come upon thee.

14 When therefore these things arise in thine heart, know that the angel of
iniquity is with thee. Seeing therefore thou knowest his works, depart from
them all, and give no credit to him: because his works are evil, and become
not the servants of God.

15 Here therefore thou hast the works of both these angels. Understand now
and believe the angel of righteousness, because his instruction is good.

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16 For let a man be never so happy; yet if the thoughts of the other angel
arise in his heart, that man or woman must needs sin.

17 But let man or woman be never so wicked, if the works of the angel of
righteousness come into their hearts, that man or woman must needs do
some good.

18 Thou seest therefore how it is good to follow the angel of righteousness.
If therefore thou shall follow him, and submit to his works, thou shalt live
unto God. And as many as shall submit to his work shall live also unto
God.

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COMMAND VII.

That we must fear God but not the Devil.
FEAR God, says he, and keep his commandments. For if thou keepest his
commandments thou shalt be powerful in every work, and all thy works
shall be excellent. For by fearing God, thou shalt do everything well.

2 This is that tear with which thou must be affected that thou mayest be
saved. But fear not the Devil: for if thou fearest the Lord, thou shalt have
dominion over him; because there is no power in him.

3 Now if there be no power in him, then neither is he to be feared: for every
one that has power, is to be feared. But he that has no power is despised by
every one.

4 Fear the works of the Devil, because they are evil. For by fearing the
Lord, thou wilt fear and do not the works of the Devil, but keep thyself
from them.

5 There is therefore a twofold fear; if thou wilt not do evil, fear the Lord
and thou shalt not do it. But if thou wilt do good, the fear of the Lord is
strong, and great and glorious.

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6 Wherefore, fear God and thou shalt live: and whosoever shall fear him,
and keep his commandments, their life is with the Lord. But they who keep
them not, neither is there life in them.

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COMMAND VIII.

That we must flee from evil, and do good works.
I HAVE told thee, said he, that there are two kinds of creatures of the Lord,
and that there is a two-fold abstinence. From some things therefore thou
must abstain, and from others not.

2 I answered, Declare to me, sir, from what I must abstain, and from what
not. Hearken, said he, Keep thyself from evil, and do it not; yet abstain not
from good, but do it. For if thou shalt abstain from what is good, and not do
it, thou shalt sin. Abstain therefore from all evil, and thou shalt know all
righteousness.

3 I said, What evil things are they from which I must abstain? Hearken,
said he; from adultery, from drunkenness, from riots, from excess of eating,
from daintiness and dishonesty, from pride, from fraud, from lying, from
detraction, from hypocrisy, from remembrance of injuries, and from all evil
speaking.

4 For these are the works of iniquity, from which the servant of God must
abstain. For he that cannot keep himself from these things, cannot live unto
God.

5 But hear, said he, what follows of these kind of things: for indeed many
more there are from which the servant of God must abstain. From theft, and
cheating; from false witness, from covetousness, from boasting, and all
other things of the like nature.

6 Do these things seem to thee to be evil or not? Indeed they are very evil
to the servants of God, Wherefore the servant of God must abstain from all
these works.

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7 Keep thyself therefore from them, that thou mayest live unto God, and be
written among those that abstain from them. And thus have I shown thee
what things thou must avoid: now learn from what thou must not abstain.

8 Abstain not from any good works, but do them. Hear, said he, what the
virtue of those good works is which thou must do, that thou mayest be
saved. The first of all is faith; the fear of the Lord; charity; concord; equity;
truth; patience; chastity.

9 There is nothing better than these things in the life of men; who shall
keep and do these things in their life. Hear next what follow these.
10 To minister to the widows; not to despise the fatherless and poor; to
redeem the servants of God from necessity; to be hospitable (for in
hospitality there is sometimes great fruit); not to be contentious, but be
quiet.

11 To be humble above all men; to reverence the aged; to labour to be
righteous; to respect the brotherhood; to bear affronts; to be long-suffering;
not to cast away those that have fallen from the faith, but to convert them,
and make them be of good cheer: to admonish sinners; not to oppress those
that are our debtors; and all other things of a like kind.

12 Do these things seem to thee to be good or not? And I said, What can be
better than these words? Live then, said he, in these commandments, and do
not depart from them. For if thou shalt keep all these commandments, thou
shalt live unto God. And all they that shall keep these commandments shall
live unto God.

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COMMAND IX.

That we must ask of God daily; and without doubting.
AGAIN he said unto me; remove from thee all doubting; and question
nothing at all when thou askest any thing of the Lord; saying within thyself,
how shall I be able to ask any thing of the Lord and receive it, seeing I have

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so greatly sinned against him?

2 Do not think thus, but turn unto the Lord with all thy heart, and ask of
him without doubting, and thou shalt know the mercy of the Lord; bow that
he will not forsake thee, but will fulfil the request of thy soul.

3 For God is not as men, mindful of the injuries he has received; but he
forgets injuries, and has compassion upon his creature.

4 Wherefore purify thy heart from all the vices of this present world; and
observe the commands I have before delivered unto thee from God; and
thou shall receive whatsoever good things thou shalt ask, and nothing shall
be wanting unto thee of all thy petitions; if thou shalt ask of the Lord
without doubting.

5 But they that are not such, shall obtain none of those things which they
ask. For they that are full of faith, ask all things with confidence, and
receive from the Lord, because they ask without doubting. But he that
doubts, shall hardly live unto God, except he repent.

6 Wherefore purify thy heart from doubting, and put on faith, and trust in
God, and thou shall receive all that thou shalt ask. But if thou shouldest
chance to ask something, and not immediately receive it, yet do not
therefore doubt, because thou hast not presently received the petition of thy
soul.

7 For it may be thou shalt not presently receive it for thy trial, or else for
some sin which thou knowest not. But do not thou leave off to ask, and then
thou shalt receive. Else if thou shalt cease to ask, thou must complain of
thyself, and not of God, that he has not given unto thee what thou didst
desire.

8 Consider therefore this doubting how cruel and pernicious it is; and how
it utterly roots out many from the faith, who were very faithful and firm.
For this doubting is the daughter of the Devil, and deals very wickedly with
the servants of God.

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9 Despise it therefore, and thou shalt rule over it on every occasion. Put on
a firm and powerful faith: for faith promises all things and perfects all
things. But doubting will not believe that it shall obtain any thing by all that
it can do.

10. Thou seest therefore, says he, how faith cometh from above from God;
and hath great power. But doubting is an earthly spirit, and proceedeth from
the Devil, and has no strength.

11 Do thou therefore keep the virtue of faith, and depart from doubting, in
which is no virtue, and thou shalt live unto God. And all shall live unto
God, as many as do these things.



COMMAND X-XII

[Anne Terri]

The Second Part of The Book of Hermas, Called His Commands.

COMMANDS X - XII

p. 370

COMMAND X.

Of the sadness of the heart; and that we must take, heed not to grieve the
spirit of God that is in us.
PUT all sadness far from thee; for it is the sister of doubting and of anger.
How, sir, said I is it the sister of these? For sadness, and anger, and
doubting, seem to me to be very different from one another.

2 And he answered: Art thou without sense that thou dost not understand it?
For sadness is the most mischievous of all spirits, and the worst to the
servants of God: It destroys the spirits of all men, and torments the Holy
Spirit, and it saves again.

3 Sir, said I, I am very foolish, and understand not these things. I cannot
apprehend how it can torment, and yet save. Hear, said he, and understand.
They who never sought out the truth, nor inquired concerning the majesty
of God, but only believed, are involved in the affairs of the heathen.

4 And there is another lying prophet that destroys the minds of the servants
of God; that is of those that are doubtful, not of those that fully trust in the
Lord. Now those doubtful persons come to him, as to a divine spirit, and
inquire of him what shall befall them.

p. 371

5 And this lying prophet, having no power in him of the Divine Spirit,
answers them according to their demands, and fills their souls with
promises according as they desire. Howbeit that prophet is vain, and
answers vain things to those who are themselves vain.

6 And whatsoever is asked of him by vain men, he answers them vainly;
nevertheless he speaketh some things truly. For the Devil fills him with his
spirit, that he may overthrow some of the righteous.

7 Whosoever therefore are strong in the faith of the Lord, and have put on
the truth; they are not joined to such spirits, but depart from them. But they
that are doubtful, and often repenting, like the heathens, consult them, and
heap up to themselves great sin, serving idols.

8 As many therefore as are such, inquire of them upon every occasion;
worship idols, and are foolish; and void of the truth. For every spirit that is
given from God needs not to be asked: but having the power of divinity
speaks all things of itself, because he comes from above; from the power of
God.

10 But he, that being asked speaks according to men's desires and
concerning many other affairs of this present world, understands not the
tidings which relate unto God. For these spirits are darkened through such
affairs, and corrupted, and broken.

11 As good vines if they are neglected, are oppressed with weeds and
thorns, and at last killed by them; so are the men who believe such spirits.

12 They fall into many actions and businesses, and are void of sense, and
when they think of things pertaining unto God, they understand nothing at
all; but at any time they chance to hear any thing concerning the Lord, their
thoughts are upon their business.

13 But they that have the fear of the Lord, and search out the truth
concerning God, having all their thoughts towards the Lord; apprehend
whatsoever is said to them, and forthwith understand it, because they have

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the fear of the Lord in them.

14 For where the spirit of the Lord dwells, there is also much understanding
added. Wherefore join thyself to the Lord, and thou shalt understand all
things.

15 Learn now, O unwise man! how sadness troubleth the Holy Spirit, and
how it saves. When a man that is doubtful is engaged in any affair,

14 For where the spirit of the Lord dwells, there is also much understanding

added. Wherefore join thyself to the Lord, and thou shalt understand all

things.


15 Learn now, O unwise man! how sadness troubleth the Holy Spirit, and

how it saves. When a man that is doubtful is engaged in any affair, and

does not accomplish it by reason of his doubting; this sadness enters into

him, and grieves the Holy Spirit, and makes him sad.


16 Again anger, when it over. takes any man for any business he is greatly

moved; and then again sadness entereth into the heart of him, who was

moved with anger, and he is troubled for what he hath done, and repenteth,

because he hath done amiss.


17 This sadness therefore seemeth to bring salvation, because he repenteth

of his evil deed. But both the other things, namely, doubting and sadness,

such as before was mentioned, vex the spirit: doubting, because his work

did not succeed; and sadness, because he angered the Holy Spirit.


18 Remove therefore sadness from thyself, and afflict not the Holy Spirit

which dwelleth in thee, lest he entreat God, and depart from thee. For the

spirit of the Lord which is given to dwell in the flesh, endureth no such

sadness.


19 Wherefore clothe thyself with cheerfulness, which has always favour

with the Lord, and thou shalt rejoice in it. For every cheerful man does

well; and relishes those things that are good, and despises sadness.


20 But the sad man does always wickedly. First, he doth wickedly, because

he grieveth the Holy Spirit, which is given to man being of a cheerful

nature. And again he does ill, because be prays with sadness unto the Lord,

and maketh not first a thankful acknowledgment unto him of former

mercies, and obtains not of God what he asks.


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21 For the prayer of a sad man has not always efficacy to come up to the
altar of God. And I said unto him, Sir, why has not the prayer of a sad man
virtue to come up to the altar of God? Because, said he, that sadness
remaineth in his heart.

22 When therefore a man's prayer shall be accompanied with sadness, it
will not suffer his requests to ascend pure to the altar of God. For as wine
when it is mingled with vinegar, has not the sweetness it had before; so
sadness being mixed with the Holy Spirit, suffers not a man's prayer to be
the same as it would be otherwise.

23 Wherefore cleanse thyself from sadness, which is evil, and thou shalt
live unto God. And all others shall live unto God, as many as shall lay aside
sadness, and put on cheerfulness.

---

COMMAND XI.
That the spirits and prophets are to be tried by their works; and of a
twofold, spirit.
HE showed me certain men sitting upon benches, and one sitting in a chair:
and he said unto me; Seest thou those who sit upon the benches? Sir, said I,
I see them. He answered, They are the faithful; and he who sits in the chair
is an earthly spirit.

2 For he cometh not into the assembly of the faithful, but avoids it. But he
joins himself to the doubtful and empty; and prophesies to them in corners
and hidden places; and pleases them by speaking according to all the
desires of their hearts.

3 For he placing himself among empty vessels, is not broken, but the one
fitteth the other. But when he cometh into the company of just men, who
are full of the spirit of God, and they pray unto the Lord; that man is
emptied, because that earthly spirit flies from him, and he is dumb, and
cannot speak anything.

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4 As if in a store-house you shall stop up wine or oil, and among those
vessels place an empty jar; and when afterwards you come to open it, you
shall find it empty as you stopped it up; so those empty prophets when they
come among the spirits of the just, are found to be such as they came.

5 I said, How then shall a man be able to discern them? Consider what I am
going to say concerning both kinds of men; and as I speak unto thee so
shalt thou prove the prophet of God, and the false prophet.

6 And first try the man who hath the spirit of God, because the spirit which
is from above is humble, and quiet, and departs from all wickedness; and
from the vain desires of the present world; and makes himself more humble
than all men; and answers to none when he is asked; nor to every one
singly: for the Spirit of God doth not speak to a man when he will, but
when God pleases.

7 When therefore a man who hath the Spirit of God hath come into the
church of the righteous, who have the faith of God, and they pray unto the
Lord; then the holy angel of God fills that man with the blessed Spirit, and
he speaks in the congregation as he is moved of God.

8 Thus therefore is the spirit, of God known, because whosoever speaketh
by the Spirit of God, speaketh as the Lord will.

9 Hear now concerning the earthly spirit, which is empty and foolish, and
without virtue. And first of all the man who is supposed to have the Spirit,
(whereas he hath it not in reality), exalteth himself, and desires to have the
first seat, and is wicked, and full of words.

10 And spends his time in pleasure, and in all manner of voluptuousness,
and receives the reward of his divination; which if he receives not, he does
not divine.

11 Should the Spirit of God receive reward, and divine? It doth not become
a prophet of God so to do.

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12 Thus you seethe life of each of these kind of prophets. Wherefore prove
that man by his life and works, who says that he hath the Holy Spirit. And
believe the Spirit which comes from God, and has power as such. But
believe not the earthly and empty spirit, which is from the devil, in whom
there is no faith nor virtue.

13 Hear now the similitude which I am about to speak unto thee. Take a
stone, and throw it up towards heaven; or take a spout of water, and mount
it up thitherward; and see if thou canst reach unto heaven.

14 Sir; said I, how can this be done? For neither of those things which you
have mentioned, are possible to be done. And he answered, Therefore as
these things cannot be done, so is the earthy spirit without virtue, and
without effect.

15 Understand yet farther the power which cometh from above, in this
similitude. The grains of hail that drop down are exceedingly small; and yet
when they fall upon the head of a man, how do they cause pain to it.
16 And again, consider, the droppings of a house; how the little drops
falling upon the earth, work a hollow in the stones.

17 So in like manner the least things which come from above, and fall upon
the earth, have great force. Wherefore join thyself to this spirit, which has
the power; and depart from the other which is empty.

---

COMMAND 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.

AGAIN he said unto me; remove from thee all evil desires, and put on good
and holy desires. For having put on a good desire, thou shalt hate that
which is evil, and bridle it as thou wilt. But an evil desire is dreadful, and
hard to be tamed.

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2 It is very horrible and wild; and by its wildness consumes men. And
especially if a servant of God shall chance to fall into it, except he be very
wise, he is ruined by it. For it destroys those who have not the garment of a
good desire and are engaged in the affairs of this present world; and
delivers them unto death.

3 Sir, said I, what are the works of an evil desire, which bring men unto
death? Shew them to me that I may depart from them. Hear, said he, by
what works an evil desire bringeth the servants of God unto death.

4 First of all, it is an evil desire to covet another man's wife, or for a woman
to covet another's husband; as also to desire the dainties of riches; and
multitude of superfluous meats; and drunkenness; and many delights.

5 For in much delicacy there is folly; and many pleasures are needless to
the servants of God. Such lusting therefore is evil and pernicious, which
brings to death the servants of God. For all such lusting is from the devil.

6 Whosoever therefore shall depart from all evil desires, shall live unto
God; but they that are subject unto them shall die forever. For this evil
lusting is deadly. Do thou therefore put on the desire of righteousness, and
being armed with the fear of the Lord resist all wicked lusting.

7 For this fear dwelleth in good desires; and, when evil coveting shall see
thee armed with the fear of the Lord, and resisting it; it will fly far from
thee, and not appear before thee, but be afraid of thy armour.

8 And thou shall have the victory, and be crowned for it; and shall attain to
that desire which is good; and shall give the victory which thou hast
obtained unto God, and shall serve him in doing what thou thyself wouldest
do.

9 For if thou shalt serve good desires, and be subject to them; then thou
shalt be able to get the dominion over thy wicked lustings; and they will be
subject to thee, as thou wilt.

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10 And I said, Sir, I would know how to serve that desire which is good?
Hearken, said he, Fear God, and put thy trust in him, and love truth, and
righteousness, and do that which is good.

10 If thou shalt do these things, thou shall be an approved servant of God,
and serve him; and all others who shall in like manner serve a good desire,
shall live unto God.

12 And when he had fulfilled these twelve commands, he said unto me,
Thou hast now these commands, walk in them; and exhort those that hear
them, to repent, and that they keep their repentance pure all the remaining
days of their life.

13 And fulfil diligently this ministry which I commit to thee, and thou shalt
receive great advantage by it, and find favour with all such as shall repent
and believe thy words. For I am with thee, and will force them to believe.

14 And I said unto him, Sir, these commands are great and excellent, and
able to cheer the heart of that man that shall be able to keep them. But, Sir,
I cannot tell, whether they can be observed by any man?

15 He answered, Thou shalt easily keep these commands, and they shall not
be hard: howbeit, if thou shalt suffer it once to enter into thine heart that
they cannot be kept by any one, thou shalt not fulfil them.

16 But now I say unto thee, if thou shalt not observe these commands, and
shall neglect them, thou shalt not be saved, nor thy children, nor thy house:
because thou hast judged that these commands cannot be kept by man.

17 These things he spake very angrily unto me, insomuch that he greatly
affrighted me, for he changed his countenance so that a man could not bear
his anger.

18 And when he saw me altogether troubled and confounded, he began to
speak more moderately and cheerfully, saying, O foolish, and without
understanding!

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19 Unconstant, not knowing the majesty of God how great and wonderful
he is; who created the world for man, and hath made every creature subject
unto him; and given him all power, that he should be able to fulfil all these
commands.

20 He is able, said he, to fulfil all these commands, who has the Lord in his
heart; but they who have the Lord only in their mouths, their hearts are
hardened, and they are far from the Lord: to such persons these commands
are hard and difficult.

21 Therefore, ye that are empty and light in the faith, put the Lord your
God in your hearts; and ye shall perceive how that nothing is more easy
than these commands, nor more pleasant, nor more gentle and holy.

22 And turn yourselves to the Lord your God, and forsake the devil and his
pleasures, because they are evil, and bitter, and impure. And fear not the
devil, because he has no power over you.

23 For I am with you, the messenger of repentance, who have the dominion
over him. The devil doth indeed affright men but his terror is vain.
Wherefore fear him not, and he will flee from you.

24 And I said unto him; Sir, hear me speak a few words unto you. He
answered, Say on: A man indeed desires to keep the commandments of
God, and there is no one but what prays unto God, that he may be able to
keep his commandments;

25 But the devil is hard, and by his power rules over the servants of God.
And he said; He cannot rule over the servants of God, who trust in him with
all their hearts.

26 The devil may strive, but he cannot overcome them.

27 For if ye resist him, he will flee away with confusion from you. But they
that are not full in the faith, fear the devil, as if he had some great power.
For the devil tries the servants of God and if he finds them empty, he

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destroys them.
28 For as man, when he fills up vessels with good wine, and among them
puts a few vessels half full, and comes to try and taste of the vessels, doth
not try those that are full, because he knows that they are good, but tastes
those that are half full, lest they should grow sour; (for vessels half full
soon grow sour, and lose the taste of wine:) so the devil comes to the
servants of God to try them.
29 They that are full of faith resist him stoutly, and he departs from them,
because he finds no place where to enter into them then he goes to those
that are not full of faith, and because he has a place of entrance he goes into
them, and does what he will with them, and they become his servants.
30 But I, the messenger of repentance, say unto you, fear not the devil, for I
am sent unto you, that I may be with you, as many as shall repent with your
whole heart, and that I may confirm you in the faith.
31 Believe therefore, ye who by reason of your transgressions have forgot
God and your own salvation; and adding to your sins have made your life
very heavy.
32 That if ye shall turn to the Lord with your whole hearts, and shall serve
him according to his will; he will heal you of your former sins, and ye shall
have dominion over all the works of the devil.
33 Be not then afraid in the least of his threatenings, for they are without
force, as the nerves of a dead man. But hearken unto me, and fear the Lord
Almighty, who is able to save and to destroy you; and keep his commands,
that ye may live unto God.
34 And I said unto him; Sir, I am now confirmed in all the commands of
the Lord whilst you are with me, and I know that you will break all the
powers of the devil.

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35 And we also shall overcome him, if we shall be able, through the help of
the Lord, to keep these commands which you have delivered.
36 Thou shalt keep them, said he, if thou shalt purify thy heart towards the
Lord. And all they also shall keep them who shall cleanse their hearts from
the vain desires of the present world, and shall live unto God.

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NEXT p. 380 THE THIRD PART OF THE BOOK OF HERMAS, CALLED HIS
SIMILITUDES. - TO BE CONTINUED