Hermas — Shepherd — Similitudes Sim. 10

Concerning Repentance and Alms-Giving. Chapter 1 After I had fully written down this book, that messenger who had delivered me to the Shepherd came into the house in which I was, and sat down upon a couch, and the Shepherd stood on his right hand. He then called me, and spoke to me as follows: I have delivered you and your house to the Shepherd, that you may be protected by him. Yes, sir, I said. If you wish, therefore, to be protected, he said, from all annoyance, and from all harsh treatment, and to have success in every good work and word, and to possess all the virtues of righteousness, walk in these commandments which he has given you, and you will be able to subdue all wickedness . For if you keep those commandments, every desire and pleasure of the world will be subject to you, and success will attend you in every good work.

Take unto yourself his experience and moderation, and say to all that he is in great honour and dignity with God , and that he is a president with great power, and mighty in his office. To him alone throughout the whole world is the power of repentance assigned. Does he seem to you to be powerful? But you despise his experience, and the moderation which he exercises towards you. Chapter 2 I said to him, Ask himself, sir, whether from the time that he has entered my house I have done anything improper, or have offended him in any respect. He answered, I also know that you neither have done nor will do anything improper, and therefore I speak these words to you, that you may persevere.

For he had a good report of you to me, and you will say these words to others, that they also who have either repented or will still repent may entertain the same feelings with you, and he may report well of these to me, and I to the Lord . And I said, Sir, I make known to every man the great works of God: and I hope that all those who love them, and have sinned before, on hearing these words, may repent, and receive life again. Continue, therefore, in this ministry, and finish it. And all who follow out his commands shall have life, and great honour with the Lord. But those who do not keep his commandments, flee from his life, and despise him. But he has his own honour with the Lord. All, therefore, who shall despise him, and not follow his commands, deliver themselves to death, and every one of them will be guilty of his own blood.

But I enjoin you, that you obey his commands, and you will have a cure for your former sins . Chapter 3 Moreover, I sent you these virgins , that they may dwell with you. For I saw that they were courteous to you. You will therefore have them as assistants, that you may be the better able to keep his commands: for it is impossible that these commandments can be observed without these virgins . I see, moreover, that they abide with you willingly; but I will also instruct them not to depart at all from your house: do you only keep your house pure, as they will delight to dwell in a pure abode. For they are pure, and chaste, and industrious, and have all influence with the Lord.