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The Shepherd of Hermas /
Mandate 1 1[26]:1 "First of all, believe that God is One, even He who created all things and set them in order, and brought all things from non-existence into being, Who comprehendeth all things, being alone incomprehensible. 1[26]:2 Believe Him therefore, and fear Him, and in this fear be continent. Keep these things, and thou shalt cast off all wickedness from thyself, and shalt clothe thyself with every excellence of righteousness, and shalt live unto God, if thou keep this commandment." Mandate 2 1[27]:1 He saith to me; "Keep simplicity and be guileless, and thou shalt be as little children, that know not the wickedness which destroyeth the life of men. 1[27]:2 First of all, speak evil of no man, neither take pleasure in listening to a slanderer. Otherwise thou that hearest too shalt be responsible for the sin of him that speaketh the evil, if thou believest the slander, which thou hearest; for in believing it thou thyself also wilt have a grudge against thy brother. So then shalt thou be responsible for the sin of him that speaketh the evil. 1[27]:3 Slander is evil; it is a restless demon, never at peace, but always having its home among factions. Refrain from it therefore, and thou shalt have success at all times with all men. 1[27]:4 But clothe thyself in reverence, wherein is no evil stumbling-block, but all things are smooth and gladsome. Work that which is good, and of thy labors, which God giveth thee, give to all that are in want freely, not questioning to whom thou shalt give, and to whom thou shalt not give. Give to all; for to all God desireth that there should be given of His own bounties. 1[27]:5 They then that receive shall render an account to God why they received it, and to what end; for they that receive in distress shall not be judged, but they that receive by false pretence shall pay the penalty. 1[27]:6 He then that giveth is guiltless; for as he received from the Lord the ministration to perform it, he hath performed it in sincerity, by making no distinction to whom to give or not to give. This ministration then, when sincerely performed, becomes glorious in the sight of God. He therefore that ministereth thus sincerely shall live unto God. 1[27]:7 Therefore keep this commandment, as I have told thee, that thine own repentance and that of thy household may be found to be sincere, and [thy] heart pure and undefiled." Mandate 3 1[28]:1 Again he saith to me; "Love truth, and let nothing but truth proceed out of thy mouth, that the Spirit which God made to dwell in this flesh, may be found true in the sight of all men; and thus shall the Lord, Who dwelleth in thee, be glorified; for the Lord is true in every word, and with Him there is no falsehood. 1[28]:2 They therefore that speak lies set the Lord at nought, and become robbers of the Lord, for they do not deliver up to Him the deposit which they received. For they received of Him a spirit free from lies. This if they shall return a lying spirit, they have defiled the commandment of the Lord and have become robbers." 1[28]:3 When then I heard these things, I wept bitterly. But seeing me weep he saith, "Why weepest thou?" "Because, Sir," say I "I know not if I can be saved." "Why so?" saith he. "Because, Sir," I say, "never in my life spake I a true word, but I always lied deceitfully with all men and dressed up my falsehood as truth before all men; and no man ever contradicted me, but confidence was placed in my word. How then, Sir," say I, "can I live, seeing that I have done these things?" 1[28]:4 "Your supposition," he saith, "is right and true, for it behoved thee as a servant of God to walk in truth, and no complicity with evil should abide with the Spirit of truth, nor bring grief to the Spirit which is holy and true." "Never, Sir," say I, "heard I clearly words such as these." 1[28]:5 "Now then," saith he, "thou hearest. Guard them, that the former falsehoods also which thou spakest in thy business affairs may themselves become credible, now that these are found true; for they too can become trustworthy. If thou keep these things, and from henceforward speak nothing but truth, thou shalt be able to secure life for thyself And whosoever shall hear this command, and abstain from falsehood, that most pernicious habit, shall live unto God." Mandate 4 1[29]:1 "I charge thee, "saith he, "to keep purity, and let not a thought enter into thy heart concerning another's wife, or concerning fornication, or concerning any such like evil deeds; for in so doing thou commitest a great sin. But remember thine own wife always, and thou shalt never go wrong. 1[29]:2 For should this desire enter into thine heart, thou wilt go wrong, and should any other as evil as this, thou commitest sin. For this desire in a servant of God is a great sin; and if any man doeth this evil deed, he worketh out death for himself. 1[29]:3 Look to it therefore. Abstain from this desire; for, where holiness dwelleth, there lawlessness ought not to enter into the heart of a righteous man." 1[29]:4 I say to him, "Sir, permit me to ask thee a few more questions" "Say on," saith he. "Sir," say I, "if a man who has a wife that is faithful in the Lord detect her in adultery, doth the husband sin in living with her?" 1[29]:5 "So long as he is ignorant," saith he, "he sinneth not; but if the husband know of her sin, and the wife repent not, but continue in her fornication, and her husband live with her, he makes himself responsible for her sin and an accomplice in her adultery." 1[29]:6 "What then, Sir," say I, "shall the husband do, if the wife continue in this case?" "Let him divorce her," saith he, "and let the husband abide alone: but if after divorcing his wife he shall marry another, he likewise committeth adultery." 1[29]:7 "If then, Sir," say I, "after the wife is divorced, she repent and desire to return to her own husband, shall she not be received?" 1[29]:8 "Certainly," saith he, "if the husband receiveth her not, he sinneth and bringeth great sin upon himself; nay, one who hath sinned and repented must be received, yet not often; for there is but one repentance for the servants of God. For the sake of her repentance therefore the husband ought not to marry. This is the manner of acting enjoined on husband and wife. 1[29]:9 Not only," saith he, "is it adultery, if a man pollute his flesh, but whosoever doeth things like unto the heathen committeth adultery. If therefore in such deeds as these likewise a man continue and repent not, keep away from him, and live not with him. Otherwise, thou also art a partaker of his sin. 1[29]:10 For this cause ye were enjoined to remain single, whether husband or wife; for in such cases repentance is possible. 1[29]:11 I," said he, "am not giving an excuse that this matter should be concluded thus, but to the end that the sinner should sin no more. But as concerning his former sin, there is One Who is able to give healing; it is He Who hath authority over all things." 2[30]:1 I asked him again, saying, "Seeing that the Lord held me worthy that thou shouldest always dwell with me, suffer me still to say a few words, since I understand nothing, and my heart has been made dense by my former deeds. Make me to understand, for I am very foolish, and I apprehend absolutely nothing." 2[30]:2 He answered and said unto me, "I," saith he, "preside over repentance, and I give understanding to all who repent. Nay, thinkest thou not," saith he, "that this very act of repentance is understanding? To repent is great understanding," saith he. "For the man that hath sinned understandeth that he hath done evil before the Lord, and the deed which he hath done entereth into his heart, and he repenteth, and doeth no more evil, but doeth good lavishly, and humbleth his own soul and putteth it to torture because it sinned. Thou seest then that repentance is great understanding." 2[30]:3 "It is on this account therefore, Sir," say I, "that I enquire everything accurately of thee; first, because I am a sinner; secondly, because I know not what deeds I must do that I may live, for my sins are many and various." 2[30]:4 "Thou shalt live," saith he, "if thou keep my commandments and walk in them and whosoever shall hear these commandments and keep them, shall live unto God." 3[31]:1 "I will still proceed, Sir," say I, "to ask a further question." "Speak on," saith he. "I have heard, Sir," say I, "from certain teachers, that there is no other repentance, save that which took place when we rent down into the water and obtained remission of our former sins." 3[31]:2 He saith to me; "Thou hast well heard; for so it is. For he that hath received remission of sins ought no longer to sin, but to dwell in purity. 3[31]:3 But, since thou enquirest all things accurately, I will declare unto thee this also, so as to give no excuse to those who shall hereafter believe or those who have already believed, on the Lord. For they that have already believed, or shall hereafter believe, have not repentance for sins, but have only remission of their former sins. 3[31]:4 To those then that were called before these days the Lord has appointed repentance. For the Lord, being a discerner of hearts and foreknowing all things, perceived the weakness of men and the manifold wiles of the devil, how that he will be doing some mischief to the servants of God, and will deal wickedly with them. 3[31]:5 The Lord then, being very compassionate, had pity on His handiwork, and appointed this (opportunity of) repentance, and to me was given the authority over this repentance. 3[31]:6 But I say unto you," saith he, "if after this great and holy calling any one, being tempted of the devil, shall commit sin, he hath only one (opportunity of) repentance. But if he sin off-hand and repent, repentance is unprofitable for such a man; for he shall live with difficulty." 3[31]:7 I say unto him, "I was quickened unto life again, when I heard these things from thee so precisely. For I know that, if I shall add no more to my sins, I shall be saved." "Thou shalt be saved," he saith, "thou and all, as many as shall do these things." 4[32]:1 I asked him again, saying, "Sir, since once thou dost bear with me, declare unto me this further matter also." "Say on," saith he. "If a wife, Sir," say I, "or, it may be, a husband fall asleep, and one of them marry, doth the one that marrieth sin?" 4[32]:2 "He sinneth not," saith he, "but if he remain single, he investeth himself with more exceeding honor and with great glory before the Lord; yet even if he should marry, he sinneth not. 4[32]:3 Preserve purity and holiness therefore, and thou shalt live unto God. All these things, which I speak and shall hereafter speak unto thee, guard from this time forward, from the day when thou wast committed unto me, and I will dwell in thy house. 4[32]:4 But for thy former transgressions there shall be remission, if thou keepest my commandments. Yea, and all shall have remission, if they keep these my commandments, and walk in this purity." Mandate 5 1[33]:1 "Be thou long-suffering and understanding," he saith, "and thou shalt have the mastery over all evil deeds, and shalt work all righteousness. 1[33]:2 For if thou art long-suffering, the Holy Spirit that abideth in thee shall be pure, not being darkened by another evil spirit, but dwelling in a large room shall rejoice and be glad with the vessel in which he dwelleth, and shall serve God with much cheerfulness, having prosperity in himself. 1[33]:3 But if any angry temper approach, forthwith the Holy Spirit, being delicate, is straitened, not having [the] place clear, and seeketh to retire from the place; for he is being choked by the evil spirit, and has no room to minister unto the Lord, as he desireth, being polluted by angry temper. For the Lord dwelleth in long-suffering, but the devil in angry temper. 1[33]:4 Thus that both the spirits then should be dwelling together is inconvenient and evil for that man in whom they dwell. 1[33]:5 For if you take a little wormwood, and pour it into a jar of honey, is not the whole of the honey spoiled, and all that honey ruined by a very small quantity of wormwood? For it destroyeth the sweetness of the honey, and it no longer hath the same attraction for the owner, because it is rendered bitter and hath lost its use. But if the wormwood be not put into the honey, the honey is found sweet and becomes useful to its owner. 1[33]:6 Thou seest [then] that long-suffering is very sweet, beyond the sweetness of honey, and is useful to the Lord, and He dwelleth in it. But angry, temper is bitter and useless. If then angry temper be mixed with long-suffering, long-suffering is polluted and the man's intercession is no longer useful to God." 1[33]:7 "I would fain know, Sir," say I, "the working of angry temper, that I may guard myself from it." "Yea, verily," saith he, "if thou guard not thyself from it--thou and thy family--thou hast lost all thy hope. But guard thyself from it; for I am with thee. Yea, and all men shall hold aloof from it, as many as have repented with their whole heart. For I will be with them and will preserve them; for they all were justified by the most holy angel. 2[34]:1 "Hear now," saith he, "the working of angry temper, how evil it is, and how it subverteth the servants of God by its own working, and how it leadeth them astray from righteousness. But it doth not lead astray them that are full in the faith, nor can it work upon them, because the power of the Lord is with them; but them that are empty and double-minded it leadeth astray. 2[34]:2 For when it seeth such men in prosperity it insinuates itself into the heart of the man, and for no cause whatever the man or the woman is embittered on account of worldly matters, either about meats, or some triviality, or about some friend, or about giving or receiving, or about follies of this kind. For all these things are foolish and vain and senseless and inexpedient for the servants of God. 2[34]:3 But long-suffering is great and strong, and has a mighty and vigorous power, and is prosperous in great enlargement, gladsome, exultant, free from care, glorifying the Lord at every season, having no bitterness in itself, remaining always gentle and tranquil. This long-suffering therefore dwelleth with those whose faith is perfect. 2[34]:4 But angry temper is in the first place foolish, fickle and senseless; then from foolishness is engendered bitterness, and from bitterness wrath, and from wrath anger, and from anger spite; then spite being composed of all these evil elements becometh a great sin and incurable. 2[34]:5 For when all these spirits dwell in one vessel, where the Holy Spirit also dwelleth, that vessel cannot contain them, but overfloweth. 2[34]:6 The delicate spirit therefore, as not being accustomed to dwell with an evil spirit nor with harshness, departeth from a man of that kind, and seeketh to dwell with gentleness and tranquillity. 2[34]:7 Then, when it hath removed from that man, in whom it dwells,
that man becometh emptied of the righteous spirit, and henceforward,
being filled with the evil spirits, he is unstable in all his actions,
being dragged about hither and thither by the evil spirits, and is
altogether blinded and bereft of his good intent. Thus then it
happeneth to all persons of angry temper.
1[35]:1 I charged thee," saith he, "in my first commandment to
guard faith and fear and temperance." "Yes, Sir," say I. "But now,"
saith he, "I wish to show thee their powers also, that thou mayest
understand what is the power and effect of each one of them. For their
effects are two fold. Now they are prescribed alike to the righteous
and the unrighteous.
1[35]:2 Do thou therefore trust righteousness, but trust not
unrighteousness; for the way of righteousness is straight, but the
way of unrighteousness is crooked. But walk thou in the straight
[and level] path, and leave the crooked one alone.
1[35]:3 For the crooked way has no tracks, but only pathlessness
and many stumbling stones, and is rough and thorny. So it is therefore
harmful to those who walk in it.
1[35]:4 But those who walk in the straight way walk on the level
and without stumbling: for it is neither rough nor thorny. Thou seest
then that it is more expedient to walk in this way."
1[35]:5 "I am pleased, Sir," say I, "to walk in this way." "Thou
shalt walk," he saith, "yea, and whosoever shall turn unto the Lord
with his whole heart shall walk in it.
2[36]:1 "Hear now," saith he, "concerning faith. There are two
angels with a man, one of righteousness and one of wickedness."
2[36]:2 "How then, Sir," say I, "shall I know their workings,
seeing that both angels dwell with me?"
2[36]:3 "Hear," saith he, "and understand their workings. The angel
of righteousness is delicate and bashful and gentle and tranquil.
When then this one enters into thy heart, forthwith he speaketh with
thee of righteousness, of purity, of holiness, and of contentment,
of every righteous deed and of every glorious virtue. When all these
things enter into thy heart, know that the angel of righteousness is
with thee. [These then are the works of the angel of righteousness.]
Trust him therefore and his works.
2[36]:4 Now see the works of the angel of wickedness also. First
of all, he is quick tempered and bitter and senseless, and his works
are evil, overthrowing the servants of God. Whenever then he entereth
into thy heart, know him by his works."
2[36]:5 "How I shall discern him, Sir," I reply, "I know not."
Listen," saith he. "When a fit of angry temper or bitterness comes
upon thee, know that he is in thee. Then the desire of much business
and the costliness of many viands and drinking bouts and of many
drunken fits and of various luxuries which are unseemly, and the
desire of women, and avarice, and haughtiness and boastfulness, and
whatsoever things are akin and like to these--when then these things
enter into thy heart, know that the angel of wickedness is with thee.
2[36]:6 Do thou therefore, recognizing his works, stand aloof from
him, and trust him in nothing, for his works are evil and inexpedient
for the servants of God. Here then thou hast the workings of both the
angels. Understand them, and trust the angel of righteousness.
2[36]:7 But from the angel of wickedness stand aloof, for his
teaching is evil in every matter; for though one be a man of faith,
and the desire of this angel enter into his heart, that man, or that
woman, must commit some sin.
2[36]:8 And if again a man or a woman be exceedingly wicked, and
the works of the angel of righteousness come into that man's heart,
he must of necessity do something good.
2[36]:9 Thou seest then," saith he, "that it is good to follow the
angel of righteousness, and to bid farewell to the angel of wickedness.
2[36]:10 This commandment declareth what concerneth faith, that
thou mayest trust the works of the angel of righteousness, and doing
them mayest live unto God. But believe that the works of the angel
of wickedness are difficult; so by not doing them thou shalt live unto
God."
1[37]:2 But fear not the devil; for, if thou fear the Lord, thou
shalt be master over the devil, for there is no power in him. [For]
in whom is no power, neither is there fear of him; but in whom power
is glorious, of him is fear likewise. For every one that hath power
hath fear, whereas he that hath no power is despised of all.
1[37]:3 But fear thou the works of the devil, for they are evil.
While then thou fearest the Lord, thou wilt fear the works of the
devil, and wilt not do them, but abstain from them.
1[37]:4 Fear therefore is of two kinds. If thou desire to do evil,
fear the Lord, and thou shalt not do it. If again thou desire to do
good, fear the Lord and thou shalt do it. Therefore the fear of the
Lord is powerful and great and glorious. Fear the Lord then, and thou
shalt live unto Him; yea, and as many of them that keep His
commandments as shall fear Him, shall live unto God."
1[38]:1 "I told thee," saith he, "that the creatures of God are
twofold; for temperance also is twofold. For in some things it is
right to be temperate, but in other things it is not right."
1[38]:2 "Make known unto me, Sir," say I, "in what things it is
right to be temperate, and in what things it is not right." "Listen,"
saith he. "Be temperate as to what is evil, and do it not; but be not
temperate as to what is good, but do it. For if thou be temperate as
to what is good, so as not to do it, thou committest a great sin; but
if thou be temperate as to what is evil, so as not to do it, thou
doest great righteousness. Be temperate therefore in abstaining from
all wickedness, and do that which is good."
1[38]:3 "What kinds of wickedness, Sir," say I, "are they from
which we must be temperate and abstain?" "Listen," saith he; "from
adultery and fornication, from the lawlessness of drunkenness, from
wicked luxury, from many viands and the costliness of riches, and
vaunting and haughtiness and pride, and from falsehood and evil
speaking and hypocrisy, malice and all blasphemy.
1[38]:4 These works are the most wicked of all in the life of men.
From these works therefore the servant of God must be temperate and
abstain; for he that is not temperate so as to abstain from these
cannot live unto God. Listen then to what follows upon these."
1[38]:5 "Why, are there still other evil deeds, Sir?" say I. "Aye,
saith he, "there are many, from which the servant of God must be
temperate and abstain; theft, falsehood, deprivation, false witness,
avarice, evil desire, deceit, vain-glory, boastfulness, and whatsoever
things are like unto these.
1[38]:6 Thinkest thou not that these things are wrong, yea, very
wrong," [saith he,] "for the servants of God? In all these things he
that serveth God must exercise temperance. Be thou temperate,
therefore, and refrain from all these things, that thou mayest live
unto God, and be enrolled among those who exercise self-restraint in
them. These then are the things from which thou shouldest restrain
thyself.
1[38]:7 Now hear," saith he, "the things, in which thou shouldest
not exercise self restraint, but do them. Exercise no self-restraint
in that which is good, but do it."
1[38]:8 "Sir," say I, "show me the power of the good also, that
I may walk in them and serve them, that doing them it may be possible
for me to be saved." "Hear," saith he, "the works of the good likewise,
which thou must do, and towards which thou must exercise no
self-restraint.
1[38]:9 First of all, there is faith, fear of the Lord, love,
concord, words of righteousness, truth, patience; nothing is better
than these in the life of men. If a man keep these, and exercise not
self-restraint from them, he becomes blessed in his life.
1[38]:10 Hear now what follow upon these; to minister to widows,
to visit the orphans and the needy, to ransom the servants of God
from their afflictions, to be hospitable (for in hospitality
benevolence from time to time has a place), to resist no man, to be
tranquil, to show yourself more submissive than all men, to reverence
the aged, to practice righteousness, to observe brotherly feeling,
to endure injury, to be long-suffering, to bear no grudge, to exhort
those who are sick at soul, not to cast away those that have stumbled
from the faith, but to convert them and to put courage Into them, to
reprove sinners, not to oppress debtors and indigent persons, and
whatsoever actions are like these.
1[38]:11 Do these things," saith he, "seem to thee to be good?"
"Why, what, Sir," say I, "can be better than these?" "Then walk in
them," saith he, "and abstain not from them, and thou shalt live unto
God.
1[38]:12 Keep this commandment therefore. If thou do good and
abstain not from it, thou shalt live unto God; yea, and all shall
live unto God who act so. And again if thou do not evil, and abstain
from it, thou shalt live unto God; yea, and all shall live unto God,
who shall keep these commandments, and walk in them."
Mandate 9
1[39]:1 He saith to me; "Remove from thyself a doubtful mind and
doubt not at all whether to ask of God, saying within thyself, "How
can I ask thing of the Lord and receive it, seeing that I have
committed so many sins against Him?"
1[39]:2 Reason not thus, but turn to the Lord with thy whole heart,
and ask of Him nothing wavering, and thou shalt know His exceeding
compassion, that He will surely not abandon thee, but will fulfill
the petition of thy soul.
1[39]:3 For God is not as men who bear a grudge, but Himself is
without malice and hath compassion on His creatures.
1[39]:4 Do thou therefore cleanse thy heart from all the vanities
of this life, and from the things mentioned before; and ask of the
Lord, and thou shalt receive all things, and shalt lack nothing of
all thy petitions, if thou ask of the Lord nothing wavering.
1[39]:5 But if thou waver in thy heart, thou shalt surely receive
none of thy petitions. For they that waver towards God, these are the
doubtful-minded, and they never obtain any of their petitions.
1[39]:6 But they that are complete in the faith make all their
petitions trusting in the Lord, and they receive, because they ask
without wavering, nothing doubting; for every doubtful-minded man,
if he repent not, shall hardly be saved.
1[39]:7 Cleanse therefore thy heart from doubtful-mindedness, and
put on faith, for it is strong, and trust God that thou wilt receive
all thy petitions which thou askest; and if after asking anything of
the Lord, thou receive thy petition somewhat tardily, be not of
doubtful mind because thou didst not receive the petition of thy soul
at once. For assuredly it is by reason of some temptation or some
transgression, of which thou art ignorant, that thou receivest thy
petition so tardily.
1[39]:8 Do thou therefore cease not to make thy soul's petition,
and thou shalt receive it. But if thou grow weary, and doubt as thou
askest, blame thyself and not Him that giveth unto thee. See to this
doubtful-mindedness; for it is evil and senseless, and uprooteth many
from the faith, yea, even very faithful and strong men. For indeed
this doubtful-mindedness is a daughter of the devil, and worketh great
wickedness against the servants of God.
1[39]:9 Therefore despise doubtful-mindedness and gain the mastery
over it in everything, clothing thyself with faith which is strong and
powerful. For faith promiseth all things, accomplisheth all things;
but doubtful-mindedness, as having no confidence in itself, fails in
all the works which it doeth.
1[39]:10 Thou seest then," saith he, "that faith is from above from
the Lord, and hath great power; but doubtful-mindedness is an earthly
spirit from the devil, and hath no power.
1[39]:11 Do thou therefore serve that faith which hath power, and
hold aloof from the doubtful-mindedness which hath no power; and thou
shalt live unto God; yea, and all those shall live unto God who are
so minded."
Mandate 10
1[40]:1 "Put away sorrow from thyself," saith he, "for she is the
sister of doubtful-mindedness and of angry temper."
1[40]:2 "How, Sir," say I, "is she the sister of these? For angry
temper seems to me to be one thing, doubtful-mindedness another,
sorrow another." "Thou art a foolish fellow," saith he, "[and]
perceivest not that sorrow is more evil than all the spirits, and
is most fatal to the servants of God, and beyond all the spirits
destroys a man, and crushes out the Holy Spirit and yet again saves it."
1[40]:3 "I, Sir," say I, "am without understanding, and I understand
not these parables. For how it can crush out and again save, I do not
comprehend."
1[40]:4 "Listen," saith he. "Those who have never investigated
concerning the truth, nor enquired concerning the deity, but have
merely believed, and have been mixed up in business affairs and riches
and heathen friendships, and many other affairs of this world--as many,
I say, as devote themselves to these things, comprehend not the
parables of the deity; for they are darkened by these actions, and
are corrupted and become barren.
1[40]:5 As good vineyards, when they are treated with neglect, are
made barren by the thorns and weeds of various kinds, so men who
after they have believed fall into these many occupations which were
mentioned before, lose their understanding and comprehend nothing at
all concerning righteousness; for if they hear concerning the deity
and truth, their mind is absorbed in their occupations, and they
perceive nothing at all.
1[40]:6 But they that have the fear of God, and investigate
concerning deity and truth, and direct their heart towards the Lord,
perceive and understand everything that is said to them more quickly,
because they have the fear of the Lord in themselves; for where the
Lord dwelleth, there too is great understanding. Cleave therefore unto
the Lord, and thou shalt understand and perceive all things.
2[41]:1 "Hear now, senseless man," saith he, "How sorrow crusheth
out the Holy Spirit, and again saveth it.
2[41]:2 When the man of doubtful mind sets his hand to any action,
and fails in it owing to his doubtful-mindedness, grief at this
entereth into the man, and grieveth the Holy Spirit, and crusheth it
out.
2[41]:3 Then again when angry temper cleaveth to a man concerning
any matter, and he is much embittered, again sorrow entereth into the
heart of the man that was ill-tempered, and he is grieved at the deed
which he hath done, and repenteth that he did evil.
2[41]:4 This sadness therefore seemeth to bring salvation, because
he repented at having done the evil. So both the operations sadden
the Spirit; first, the doubtful mind saddens the Spirit, because it
succeeded not in its business, and the angry temper again, because it
did what was evil. Thus both are saddening to the Holy Spirit, the
doubtful mind and the angry temper.
2[41]:5 Put away therefore from thyself sadness, and afflict not
the Holy Spirit that dwelleth in thee, lest haply He intercede with
God [against thee], and depart from thee.
2[41]:6 For the Spirit of God, that was given unto this flesh,
endureth not sadness neither constraint.
3[42]:1 "Therefore clothe thyself in cheerfulness, which hath favor
with Cod always, and is acceptable to Him, and rejoice in it. For
every cheerful man worketh good, and thinketh good, and despiseth
sadness;
3[42]:2 but the sad man is always committing sin. In the first
place he committeth sin, because he grieveth the Holy Spirit, which
was given to the man being a cheerful spirit; and in the second place,
by grieving the Holy Spirit he doeth lawlessness, in that he doth not
intercede with neither confess unto God. For the intercession of a sad
man hath never at any time power to ascend to the altar of God."
3[42]:3 "Wherefore," say I, "doth not the intercession of him that
is saddened ascend to the altar?" "Because," saith he, "sadness is
seated at his heart. Thus sadness mingled with the intercession doth
not suffer the intercession to ascend pure to the altar. For as
vinegar when mingled with wine in the same (vessel) hath not the same
pleasant taste, so likewise sadness mingled with the Holy Spirit hath
not the same intercession.
3[42]:4 Therefore cleanse thyself from this wicked sadness, and
thou shalt live unto God; yea, and all they shall live unto God, who
shall cast away sadness from themselves and clothe themselves in all
cheerfulness."
Mandate 11
1[43]:1 He shewed me men seated on a couch, and another man seated
on a chair. And he saith to me, "Seest thou those that are seated on
the couch?" "I see them, Sir," say I. "These," saith he, "are faithful,
but he that sitteth on the chair is a false prophet who destroyeth the
mind of the servants of God--I mean, of the doubtful-minded, not of
the faithful.
1[43]:2 These doubtful-minded ones then come to him as to a
soothsayer and enquire of him what shall befall them. And he, the
false prophet, having no power of a divine Spirit in himself, speaketh
with them according to their enquiries [and according to the lusts of
their wickedness], and filleth their souls as they themselves wish.
1[43]:3 For being empty himself he giveth empty answers to empty
enquirers; for what-ever enquiry may be made of him, he answereth
according to the emptiness of the man. But he speaketh also some true
words; for the devil filleth him with his own spirit, if so be he shall
be able to break down some of the righteous.
1[43]:4 So many therefore as are strong in the faith of the Lord,
clothed with the truth, cleave not to such spirits, but hold aloof
from them; but as many as are doubters and frequently change their
minds, practice soothsaying like the Gentiles, and bring upon
themselves greater sin by their idolatries. For he that consulteth
a false prophet on any matter is an idolater and emptied of the truth,
and senseless.
1[43]:5 For no Spirit given of God needeth to be consulted; but,
having the power of deity, speaketh all things of itself, because it
is from above, even from the power of the divine Spirit.
1[43]:6 But the spirit which is consulted, and speaketh according
to the desires of men, is earthly and fickle, having no power; and
it speaketh not at all, unless it be consulted."
1[43]:7 "How then, Sir," say I, "shall a man know who of them is a
prophet, and who a false prophet?" "Hear," saith he, "concerning both
the prophets; and, as I shall tell thee, so shalt thou test the prophet
and the false prophet. By his life test the man that hath the divine
Spirit.
1[43]:8 In the first place, he that hath the [divine] Spirit, which
is from above, is gentle and tranquil and humble-minded, and
abstaineth from all wickedness and vain desire of this present world,
and holdeth himself inferior to all men, and giveth no answer to any
man when enquired of, nor speaketh in solitude (for neither doth the
Holy Spirit speak when a man wisheth Him to speak); but the man
speaketh then when God wisheth him to speak.
1[43]:9 When then the man who hath the divine Spirit cometh into
an assembly of righteous men, who have faith in a divine Spirit, and
intercession is made to God by the gathering of those men, then the
angel of the prophetic spirit, who is attached to him, filleth the
man, and the man, being filled with the Holy Spirit, speaketh to the
multitude, according as the Lord willeth.
1[43]:10 In this way then the Spirit of the deity shall be manifest.
This then is the greatness of the power as touching the Spirit of the
deity of the Lord.
1[43]:11 Hear now," saith he, "concerning the earthly and vain
spirit, which hath no power but is foolish.
1[43]:12 In the first place, that man who seemeth to have a spirit
exalteth himself, and desireth to have a chief place, and straight-way
he is impudent and shameless and talkative and conversant in many
luxuries and in many other deceits and receiveth money for his
prophesying, and if he receiveth not, he prophesieth not. Now can a
divine Spirit receive money and prophesy? It is not possible for a
prophet of God to do this, but the spirit of such prophets is earthly.
1[43]:13 In the next place, it never approacheth an assembly of
righteous men; but avoideth them, and cleaveth to the doubtful-minded
and empty, and prophesieth to them in corners, and deceiveth them,
speaking all things in emptiness to gratify their desires; for they
too are empty whom it answereth. For the empty vessel placed together
with the empty is not broken, but they agree one with the other.
1[43]:14 But when he comes into an assembly full of righteous men
who have a Spirit of deity, and intercession is made from them, that
man is emptied, and the earthly spirit fleeth from him in fear, and
that man is struck dumb and is altogether broken in pieces, being
unable to utter a word.
1[43]:15 For, if you pack wine or oil into a closet, and place an
empty vessel among them, and again desire to unpack the closet, the
vessel which you place there empty, empty in like manner you will find
it. Thus also the empty prophets, whenever they come unto the spirits
of righteous men, are found just such as they came.
1[43]:16 I have given thee the life of both kinds of prophets.
Therefore test, by his life and his works, the man who says that he
is moved by the Spirit.
1[43]:17 But do thou trust the Spirit that cometh from God, and
hath power; but in the earthly and empty spirit put no trust at all;
for in it there is no power, for it cometh from the devil.
1[43]:18 Listen [then] to the parable which I shall tell thee. Take
a stone, and throw it up to heaven--see if thou canst reach it; or
again, take a squirt of water, and squirt it up to heaven--see if thou
canst bore through the heaven."
1[43]:19 "How, Sir," say I, "can these things be? For both these
things which thou hast mentioned are beyond our power." "Well then,"
saith he, "just as these things are beyond our power, so likewise the
earthly spirits have no power and are feeble.
1[43]:20 Now take the power which cometh from above. The hail is a
very, small grain, and yet, when it falleth on a man's head, what
pain it causeth! Or again, take a drop which falls on the ground from
the tiles, and bores through the stone.
1[43]:21 Thou seest then that the smallest things from above falling
on the earth have great power. So likewise the divine Spirit coming
from above is powerful. This Spirit therefore trust, but from the
other hold aloof."
Mandate 12
1[44]:1 He saith to me; "Remove from thyself all evil desire, and
clothe thyself in the desire which is good and holy; for clothed with
this desire thou shalt hate the evil desire, and shalt bridle and
direct it as thou wilt.
1[44]:2 For the evil desire is wild, and only tamed with difficulty;
for it is terrible, and by its wildness is very costly to men; more
especially if a servant of God get entangled in it, and have no
understanding, he is put to fearful costs by it. But it is costly to
such men as are not clothed in the good desire, but are mixed up with
this life "These men then it hands over to death."
1[44]:3 "Of what sort, Sir," say I, "are the works of the evil
desire, which hand over men to death? Make them known to me, that
I may hold aloof from them." Listen," [saith he,] "through what works
the evil desire bringeth death to the servants of God.
2[45]:1 "Before all is desire for the wife or husband of another,
and for extravagance of wealth, and for many needless dainties, and
for drinks and other luxuries, many and foolish. For even luxury is
foolish and vain for the servants of God.
2[45]:2 These desires then are evil, and bring death to the servants
of God. For this evil desire is a daughter of the devil. Ye must,
therefore, abstain from the evil desires, that so abstaining ye may
live unto God.
2[45]:3 But as many as are mastered by them, and resist them not,
are done to death utterly; for these desires are deadly.
2[45]:4 But do thou clothe thyself in the desire of righteousness,
and, having armed thyself with the fear of the Lord, resist them.
For the fear of God dwelleth in the good desire. If the evil desire
shall see thee armed with the fear of God and resisting itself, it
shall flee far from thee, and shall no more be seen of thee, being
in fear of thine arms.
2[45]:5 Do thou therefore, when thou art crowned for thy victory
over it, come to the desire of righteousness, and deliver to her the
victor's prize which thou hast received, and serve her, according as
she herself desireth. If thou serve the good desire, and art subject
to her, thou shalt have power to master the evil desire, and to
subject her, according as thou wilt."
3[46]:1 "I would fain know, Sir," say I, "in what ways I ought to
serve the good desire." "Listen," saith he; "practice righteousness
and virtue, truth and the fear of the Lord, faith and gentleness,
and as many good deeds as are like these. Practicing these thou shalt
be well-pleasing as a servant of God, and shalt live unto Him; yea,
and every one who shall serve the good desire shall live unto God."
3[46]:2 So he completed the twelve commandments, and he saith to
me; Thou hast these commandments; walk in them, and exhort thy
hearers that their repentance may become pure for the rest of the
days of their life.
3[46]:3 This ministration, which I give thee, fulfill thou with all
diligence to the end, and thou shalt effect much. For thou shalt find
favor among those who are about to repent, and they shall obey thy
words. For I will be with thee, and will compel them to obey thee."
3[46]:4 I say to him; "Sir, these commandments are great and
beautiful and glorious, and are able to gladden the heart of the man
who is able to observe them. But I know not whether these commandments
can be kept by a man, for they are very hard."
3[46]:5 He answered and said unto me; "If thou set it before thyself
that they can be kept, thou wilt easily keep them, and they will not be
hard; but if it once enter into thy heart that they cannot be kept by
a man, thou wilt not keep them.
3[46]:6 But now I say unto thee; if thou keep them not. but neglect
them thou shalt not have salvation, neither thy children nor thy
household, since thou hast already pronounced judgment against thyself
that these commandments cannot be kept by a man."
4[47]:1 And these things he said to me very angrily, so that I was
confounded, and feared him exceedingly; for his form was changed, so
that a man could not endure his anger.
4[47]:2 And when he saw that I was altogether disturbed and
confounded, he began to speak more kindly [and cheerfully] to me, and
he saith; "Foolish fellow, void of understanding and of doubtful mind,
perceivest thou not the glory of God, how great and mighty and
marvelous it is, how that He created the world for man's sake, and
subjected all His creation to man, and gave all authority to him, that
he should be master over all things under the heaven?
4[47]:3 If then," [he saith,] "man is lord of all the creatures of
God and mastereth all things, cannot he also master these commandments
Aye," saith he, "the man that hath the Lord in his heart can master
[all things and] all these commandments.
4[47]:4 But they that have the Lord on their lips, while their
heart is hardened, and are far from the Lord, to them these
commandments are hard and inaccessible.
4[47]:5 Therefore do ye, who are empty and fickle in the faith,
set your Lord in your heart, and ye shall perceive that nothing is
easier than these commandments, nor sweeter, nor more gentle.
5[48]:1 I say to him, "Sir, listen to a few words from me." "Say
what thou wilt," saith he. "Man, Sir," I say, "is eager to keep the
commandments of God, and there is no one that asketh not of the Lord
that he may be strengthened in His commandments, and be subject to
them; but the devil is hard and overmastereth them."
5[48]:2 "He cannot," saith he, "overmaster the servants of God,
who set their hope on Him with their whole heart. The devil can
wrestle with them, but he cannot overthrow them. If then ye resist
him, he will be vanquished and will flee from you disgraced. But as
many," saith he, "as are utterly empty, fear the devil as if he had
power.
5[48]:3 When a man has filled amply sufficient jars with good wine,
and among these jars a few are quite empty, he comes to the jars, and
does not examine the full ones, for he knows that they are full; but
he examineth the empty ones, fearing lest they have turned sour. For
empty jars soon turn sour, and the taste of the wine is spoilt.
5[48]:4 So also the devil cometh to all the servants of God
tempting them. As many then as are complete in the faith, oppose him
mightily, and he departeth from them, not having a place where he can
find an entrance. So he cometh next to the empty ones, and finding a
place goeth into them, and further he doeth what he willeth in them,
and they become submissive slaves to him.
6[49]:1 "But I, the angel of repentance, say unto you; Fear not the
devil; for I was sent," saith he, "to be with you who repent with
your whole heart, and to strengthen you in the faith.
6[49]:2 Believe, therefore, on God, ye who by reason of your sins
have despaired of your life, and are adding to your sins, and weighing
down your life; for if ye turn unto the Lord with your whole heart,
and work righteousness the remaining days of your life, and serve Him
rightly according to His will, He will give healing to your former
sins, and ye shall have power to master the works of the devil. But
of the threatening of the devil fear not at all; for he is unstrung,
like the sinews of a dead man.
6[49]:3 Hear me therefore, and fear Him, Who is able to do all
things, to save and to destroy, and observe these commandments, and
ye shall live unto God."
6[49]:4 I say to him, "Sir, now am I strengthened in all the
ordinances of the Lord, because thou art with me; and I know that
thou wilt crush all the power of the devil, and we shall be masters
over him, and shall prevail over all his works. And I hope, Sir,
that I am now able to keep these commandments which thou hast commanded,
the Lord enabling me."
6[49]:5 "Thou shalt keep them," saith he, "if thy heart be found
pure with the Lord; yea, and all shall keep them, as many as shall
purify their hearts from the vain desires of this world, and shall
live unto God."
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