repentance to all his servants, who had been offended, that his great and honourable name might be glorified, and because he thought me worthy to whom he might shew his wonders, and that I might honour him, and give thanks unto him. And behold somewhat like a voice answered me; doubt not, Hermas. Wherefore I began to think, and say within myself, why should I doubt, seeing I am thus settled by the Lord, and have seen such glorious things? I had gone but a little farther, brethren, when behold I saw dust rise up to Heaven. I began to say within myself, is there a drove of cattle coming, that rises such a dust? It was about a furlong off from me. And behold I saw the dust rise more and more, insomuch that I began to suspect that there was somewhat extraordinary in it. And the sun shone a little, and behold I saw a great beast, as it were a whale, and fiery locusts came out of his mouth. The heighth of the beast was about a hundred feet, and he had a head like a large earthen vessel. I began to weep and to pray unto the Lord, that he would deliver me from it. Then I called to my mind the word which I heard; doubt not, Hermas. Wherefore, brethren, putting on a divine faith, and remembering who it was that had taught me great things, I delivered myself boldly unto the beast. Now the beast came on in such a manner, as if it could at once have devoured a city. I came unto it; and the beast extended its whole bulk upon the ground, and put forth nothing but its tongue, nor once moved itself till I had quite passed by it. Now the beast had upon its head. four colours, first black, then a red and bloody colour, then a golden, and then a white,

2. After that I had passed by it, and was gone forward about thirty feet, behold there met me a certain virgin well adorned, as if she had been just come out of her bride chamber, all in white, having on white shoes, and a veil down her face, and covered with shining hair. Now I knew by my former visions that

it was the church, and thereupon grew the more cheerful. She saluted me saying, hail O man! I returned the salutation, saying, lady, hail! She answering, said unto me, did nothing meet you, O man! I replied, lady, there met me such a beast as seemed able to devour a whole people; but by the power of God, and through his singular mercy, I escaped it. Thou didst escape it well, said she; because thou didst cast thy whole care upon God, and openedst thy heart unto him, believing that thou couldst be safe by no other, than by his great and honourable name. For this cause the Lord sent his angel, who is over the beasts, whose name is Hegrin, and stopped his mouth, that he should not devour thee. Thou hast escaped a great trial through thy faith, and because thou didst not doubt for such a terrible beast. Go therefore and relate to the elect of God, the great things that he hath done for thee. And thou shalt say unto them, that this beast is the figure of the trial that is about to come. If therefore ye shall have prepared yourselves, ye may escape it, if your heart be pure and without spot; and if ye shall serve God all the rest of your days without complaint. Cast all your cares upon the Lord, and he will direct them. Believe in God, ye doubtful, because he can do all things; he can both turn away his wrath from you, and send you health and security. Woe to the doubtful, to those who shall hear these words, and shall despise them: It had been better for them that they had not been born.

3. Then I asked her concerning the four colours which the beast had upon its head. But she answered me, saying, again thou art curious in that thou askest concerning these things. And I said unto her, lady, shew me what they are? hear, said she the black which thou sawest, denotes the world in which you dwell. The fiery and bloody colour, signifies, that this age must be destroyed by fire and blood.The golden part are ye, who have escaped out of it;

for as gold is tried by the fire, and is made profitable, so are ye also in like manner tried who dwell among the men of this world; they therefore that shall endure to the end, and be proved by them shall be purged, and as gold by this trial is cleansed and loses its dross; so shall ye also cast away all sorrow and trouble, and be made pure for the building of the tower. But the white colour, denotes the time of the world. which is to come, in which the elect of God shall dwell: because the elect of God shall be pure and without spot unto life eternal. Wherefore do not thou cease to speak these things in the ears of the saints.Here ye have the figure of the great tribulation that is about to come; which, if you please, shall be nothing to you; keep therefore in mind the things which I have said unto you. When she had spoken thus much, she departed; but I saw not whither she went. But suddenly I heard a noise, and I turned back, being afraid; for I thought that the beast was coming toward me.

THE

COMMANDS OF ST. HERMAS.

BOOK II.

THE 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, cloathed with a white cloak, having his bag upon his back, and his staff in his hand, and saluted me. 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. But I thought that he was come to try me, and said unto him, who are you? for I know unto 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. Whilst he was yet speaking, his shape was changed; and when I knew 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. 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 shew unto thee all those things again, which thou hast seen before; but especially such of them as may be of most use unto thee. And first of all write my commands and similitudes, the rest thou shalt so write as I shall shew

unto thee. But I therefore bid thee first of all write my commands and similitudes, that by often reading of them, thou mayest the more easily keep them in memory. Whereupon I wrote his commands and similitudes, as he bade me. Which things if when you have heard, ye shall observe to do them, and shall walk according to them, and exercise yourselves in them with a pure mind; ye shall receive from the Lord those things which he has promised unto you. But if having heard them ye shall not repent, but shall still go on to add to your sins, ye shall be punished by him. All these things that Shepherd, the angel of repentance, commanded me to write.

COMMAND I.

OF BELIEVING IN ONE GOD.

FIRST of all believe that there is one God who created and framed all things of nothing into a being.(e) He comprehends all things, and is only immense, not to be comprehended by any. Who can neither be defined by any words, nor conceived by the mind. Therefore believe in him, and fear him, and fearing him abstain from all evil. 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 this commandment.(ƒ)

(e) Irenæus lib. 1. c. 3. Origen. de Princ. 1. 1. c. 3. Euseb. Hist. Ecclos. 1. v. c. 8. Athanas. de Incarn Verb. &c.

(f) Omnem Concupiscentiam & Nequitiam MSS. Lamb. & Oxon.

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