Shepherd of Hermas: Similitudes

He said to me, “You know,” he said, “that you servants of God live in a foreign land; for your city is far from this city. If, then,” he said, “you know your city, in which you are going to live, why do you prepare here fields and costly furnishings and buildings and useless dwellings?

Whoever prepares these things for this city cannot return to his own city.

Foolish, double-minded, and wretched man, do you not understand that all these things belong to others and are under the power of another? For the lord of this city will say, ‘I do not want you to live in my city; get out of this city, because you do not keep my laws.’

So you, who have fields and houses and many other possessions, when you are expelled by him, what will you do with your field and house and all the other things you have prepared for yourself? For the lord of this country rightly says to you, ‘Either keep my laws or leave my country.’

What, then, are you going to do, having a law in your own city? Because of your fields and your other property, will you utterly deny your own law and walk by the law of this city? See whether it is not unprofitable to deny your law; for if you wish to return to your city, you will not be received, because you denied the law of your city, and you will be shut out of it.

See to it, then: as one living in a foreign land, prepare nothing more for yourself than what is sufficient for you, and be ready, so that when the master of this city wishes to expel you for opposing his law, you may leave his city and go to your own city and keep your own law joyfully, unmolested.

Take care, then, you who serve the Lord and have him in your heart: do the works of God, remembering his commandments and the promises he has made, and believe him that he will fulfill them, if his commandments are kept.

Instead of fields, then, buy souls in distress, as each one is able, and visit widows and orphans and do not neglect them; and spend your wealth and all your furnishings, which you received from God, on such fields and houses.

For this is why the Master made you rich, so that you might perform these ministries for him. It is much better to buy such fields and possessions and houses, which you will find in your own city when you come to live in it.

This extravagance is good and holy, having no grief or fear, but having joy. Do not, then, practice the extravagance of the Gentiles; for it is unprofitable for you, the servants of God.

But practice your own extravagance, in which you can rejoice; and do not counterfeit, nor touch what belongs to another, nor desire it; for it is evil to desire what belongs to others. But do your own work, and you will be saved.”

As I was walking in the field and looking at an elm and a vine, and considering them and their fruits, the shepherd appeared to me and said, “What are you pondering to yourself about the elm and the vine?” “I am considering, sir,” I said, “that they suit each other very well.”

“These two trees,” he said, “are set as a type for God's servants.” “I would like to know,” I said, “the type of these trees you speak of.” “Do you see,” he said, “the elm and the vine?” “I see them, sir,” I said.

“This vine,” he said, “bears fruit, but the elm is a fruitless tree; yet this vine, unless it climbs the elm, cannot bear much fruit, lying on the ground, and the fruit it bears is rotten, because it does not hang on the elm. But when the vine is attached to the elm, it bears fruit both from itself and from the elm.

You see, then, that the elm also gives much fruit, not less than the vine, but rather more.” “How, sir,” I said, “more?” “Because,” he said, “the vine hanging on the elm gives much good fruit, but lying on the ground it bears little and rotten fruit. This parable, then, applies to God's servants, to poor and rich.”

“How, sir?” I said; “make it known to me.” “Hear,” he said. “The rich man has money, but toward the Lord he is poor, being distracted by his wealth, and his prayer and confession to the Lord are very small, and what he has is weak and small and has no other power. But when the rich man relies on the poor man and supplies him with what he needs, he believes that if he does good to the poor man he will be able to find his reward with God; for the poor man is rich in prayer and confession, and his prayer has great power with God. So the rich man supplies the poor man with everything without hesitating.

And the poor man, being supplied by the rich, prays to God, giving thanks to him for the one who gives to him; and the rich man is all the more eager for the poor man, that he may lack nothing in his life; for he knows that the prayer of the poor man is acceptable and rich before the Lord.

Both, then, complete the work: the poor man works by prayer, in which he is rich, which he received from the Lord; this he returns to the Lord who supplies him. And the rich man likewise provides to the poor man without hesitating the wealth he received from the Lord. And this is a great work and acceptable to God, because he has understood about his wealth, and has worked for the poor man from the gifts of the Lord, and has fulfilled his ministry rightly.

Among people, then, the elm seems not to bear fruit, and they do not know or understand that when there is a drought, the elm, having water, nourishes the vine, and the vine, having water constantly, gives double fruit, both for itself and for the elm. So also the poor, praying to the Lord for the rich, complete their wealth, and again the rich, supplying the poor with what they need, complete their prayers.

Both, then, become partners in the righteous work. Whoever does these things will not be abandoned by God, but will be written in the books of the living.

Blessed are those who have and understand that they are made rich by the Lord; for whoever understands this will also be able to do some good service.”

He showed me many trees without leaves, and they seemed to me to be withered; for they were all alike. And he said to me, “Do you see these trees?” “I see them, sir,” I said, “all alike and withered.” He answered me, “These trees that you see are those who live in this world.”

“Why, then, sir,” I said, “are they as if withered and alike?” “Because,” he said, “neither the righteous nor the sinners are distinguishable in this world, but they are alike; for this world is winter for the righteous, and they are not distinguishable, living with the sinners.

For just as in winter the trees, having shed their leaves, are alike, and it is not evident which are withered and which alive, so in this world neither the righteous nor the sinners are evident, but all are alike.”

He showed me again many trees, some budding and some withered, and said to me, “Do you see,” he said, “these trees?” “I see them, sir,” I said, “some budding and some withered.”

“These budding trees,” he said, “are the righteous who are going to live in the world to come; for the world to come is summer for the righteous, but winter for sinners. When, then, the mercy of the Lord shines forth, then those who serve God will be made manifest, and all will be made manifest.

For just as in summer the fruits of each tree are made manifest and it is recognized what kind they are, so also the fruits of the righteous will be manifest, and all will be known to be flourishing in that world.

But the Gentiles and the sinners, the withered trees that you saw, will be found such, withered and fruitless in that world, and will be burned as wood, and it will be manifest that their conduct was evil in their life. For the sinners will be burned because they sinned and did not repent; and the Gentiles will be burned because they did not know the one who created them.

So you, bear fruit, so that in that summer your fruit may be known; and keep away from many business affairs, and you will never sin. For those who do many things also sin much, being distracted by their affairs and not serving their Lord at all.

How, then,” he said, “can such a person ask anything of the Lord and receive it, when he does not serve the Lord? Those who serve him will receive their requests; but those who do not serve the Lord will receive nothing.

But if someone engages in one business, he can also serve the Lord; for his mind will not be corrupted away from the Lord, but he will serve him, keeping his mind pure.

If, then, you do these things, you can bear fruit for the world to come; and whoever does these things will bear fruit.”

While I was fasting and sitting on a certain mountain and giving thanks to the Lord for all that he had done with me, I saw the shepherd sitting beside me and saying, “Why have you come here so early?” “Because, sir,” I said, “I am keeping a station.”

“What,” he said, “is a station?” “I am fasting, sir,” I said. “And what is this fast,” he said, “that you are keeping?” “As I have been accustomed, sir,” I said, “so I fast.”

“You do not know,” he said, “how to fast to the Lord, and this useless fast that you keep for him is not a fast.” “Why, sir,” I said, “do you say this?” “I tell you,” he said, “that this is not a fast, which you think you are keeping; but I will teach you what a fast is that is acceptable and complete to the Lord. Hear,” he said.

“God does not want such a vain fast; for by fasting to God like this you do nothing for righteousness. But fast to God with a fast like this:

do no evil in your life, but serve the Lord with a pure heart; keep his commandments, walking in his ordinances, and let no evil desire enter your heart; and believe God that if you do these things and fear him and refrain from every evil thing, you will live to God. And if you do these things, you will keep a great fast, and one acceptable to God.”

“Hear the parable that I am going to tell you, which concerns fasting.

A man had a field and many slaves, and in part of the field he planted a vineyard. And choosing a certain slave who was faithful and well-pleasing and honorable, he called him and said to him, ‘Take this vineyard that I have planted and fence it until I come, and do nothing else to the vineyard. And keep this command of mine, and you will be free with me.’ And the slave's master went away on a journey.

When he had gone, the slave took and fenced the vineyard. And when he had finished fencing the vineyard, he saw that the vineyard was full of weeds.

So he reasoned to himself, saying, ‘I have fulfilled this command of the master; now I will dig this vineyard, and it will be finer when dug, and without weeds it will give more fruit, not being choked by the weeds.’ He took and dug the vineyard and pulled up all the weeds that were in the vineyard. And that vineyard became very fine and flourishing, having no weeds choking it.

After a time the master of the slave and of the field came and went into the vineyard. And seeing the vineyard fenced well, and also dug, and all the weeds pulled up and the vines flourishing, he rejoiced greatly at the works of the slave.

So he called his beloved son, whom he had as heir, and his friends, whom he had as counselors, and told them what he had commanded his slave and what he had found done. And they rejoiced with the slave at the testimony the master had given him.

And he said to them, ‘I promised this slave freedom if he kept the command I gave him; and he kept my command and added good work to the vineyard, and it pleased me greatly. In return for this work that he has done, I wish to make him joint heir with my son, because when he thought of what was good he did not neglect it, but carried it out.’

The master's son agreed with him in this purpose, that the slave should become joint heir with the son.

After a few days he gave a dinner and sent him many dishes from the dinner. And the slave took the dishes sent to him by the master, kept what was enough for himself, and distributed the rest to his fellow slaves.

And his fellow slaves, receiving the dishes, rejoiced and began to pray for him, that he might find greater favor with the master, because he had treated them so.

His master heard all these things that had happened and again rejoiced greatly at his conduct. The master called his friends and his son together again and told them what he had done with the dishes he had received; and they agreed all the more that the slave should become joint heir with his son.”

I said, “Sir, I do not know these parables, nor can I understand them unless you explain them to me.”

“I will explain everything to you,” he said, “and whatever I speak with you

I will show you. [Keep] his commandments; but if you do some good beyond God's commandment, you will gain more abundant glory for yourself and be more glorious before God than you would have been. If, then, while keeping God's commandments you also add these services, you will rejoice, if you keep them according to my command.”

I said to him, “Sir, whatever you command me, I will keep; for I know that you are with me.” “I will be with you,” he said, “because you have such eagerness for doing good; and I will be with all,” he said, “who have this eagerness.

This fast,” he said, “when the Lord's commandments are kept, is very good. This is how you shall keep this fast that you are going to observe:

First of all, guard yourself from every evil word and every evil desire, and cleanse your heart from all the vanities of this world. If you keep these things, this fast will be complete for you.

And you shall do this: having completed what is written, on the day on which you fast you shall taste nothing but bread and water, and you shall reckon the cost of the food you would have eaten that day and give it to a widow or an orphan or someone in need, and so you will be humble-minded, so that the one who receives it from your humility may satisfy his own soul and pray for you to the Lord.

If, then, you complete the fast as I have commanded you, your sacrifice will be acceptable to God, and this fast will be recorded, and the service performed in this way is good and cheerful and acceptable to the Lord.

These things you shall keep thus, with your children and your whole household; and keeping them you will be blessed; and all who hear them and keep them will be blessed, and whatever they ask of the Lord they will receive.”

I begged him earnestly to explain to me the parable of the field and the master and the vineyard and the slave who fenced the vineyard and the fences and the weeds pulled out of the vineyard and the son and the friends who were counselors; for I understood that all these things are a parable.

And he answered me, “You are very bold in asking. You ought not,” he said, “to ask anything at all; for if it is necessary for it to be made clear to you, it will be made clear.” I said to him, “Sir, whatever you show me and do not make clear, I shall have seen in vain without understanding what it is; likewise, if you speak parables to me and do not explain them to me, I shall have heard something from you in vain.”

And again he answered me, saying, “Whoever,” he said, “is a servant of God and has his Lord in his heart asks understanding from him and receives it, and explains every parable, and the words of the Lord spoken in parables become known to him. But those who are weak and idle in prayer hesitate to ask of the Lord.

But the Lord is exceedingly compassionate and gives without ceasing to all who ask of him. But you, who have been strengthened by the holy angel and have received from him such prayer and are not idle, why do you not ask understanding of the Lord and receive it from him?”

I said to him, “Sir, having you with me, I need to ask you and inquire of you; for you show me everything and speak with me. But if I saw or heard them without you, I would ask the Lord that it might be made clear to me.”

“I told you just now,” he said, “that you are cunning and bold, asking for the explanations of the parables. But since you are so persistent, I will explain to you the parable of the field and all the rest that follows, so that you may make them known to all. Hear now,” he said, “and understand them.

The field is this world; the lord of the field is the one who created all things and completed them and gave them strength; the slave is the Son of God; the vines are this people, whom he himself planted.

The fences are the holy angels of the Lord, who hold his people together. The weeds pulled out of the vineyard are the lawless deeds of God's servants. The dishes that he sent him from the dinner are the commandments that he gave his people through his Son. The friends and counselors are the holy angels who were created first. The master's journey is the time remaining until his coming.”

I said to him, “Sir, all things are great and marvelous and all is glorious. Could I, then,” I said, “have understood these things? Nor can any other person, even if he is very wise, understand them. Still, sir,” I said, “make clear to me what I am going to ask you.”

“Say what you wish,” he said. “Why, sir,” I said, “is the Son of God represented in the parable as a slave?”

“Hear,” he said: “the Son of God is not represented as a slave, but is represented in great authority and lordship.” “How, sir?” I said. “I do not understand.”

“Because,” he said, “God planted the vineyard, that is, he created the people and handed them over to his Son; and the Son set the angels over them to keep them; and he himself cleansed their sins, laboring much and enduring many toils; for no vineyard can be dug without toil or labor.

Having himself, then, cleansed the sins of the people, he showed them the paths of life, giving them the law that he received from his Father.

But why the Lord took his Son and the glorious angels as counselors about the slave's inheritance, hear:

The Holy Spirit, which pre-existed and created all creation, God made to dwell in flesh that he chose. This flesh, then, in which the Holy Spirit dwelt, served the Spirit well, walking in holiness and purity, not defiling the Spirit at all.

So when it had lived well and purely, and had labored with the Spirit and worked with it in everything, conducting itself strongly and bravely, he chose it as partner with the Holy Spirit; for the conduct of this flesh pleased him, because it was not defiled on earth while having the Holy Spirit.

He took the Son and the glorious angels as counselors, then, so that this flesh also, having served the Spirit blamelessly, might have some place to dwell and not seem to have lost the reward of its service; for all flesh in which the Holy Spirit has dwelt, if it is found undefiled and spotless, will receive a reward.

You have the explanation of this parable also.”

“I was glad, sir,” I said, “to hear this explanation.” “Hear now,” he said: “keep this flesh of yours pure and undefiled, so that the Spirit that dwells in it may bear witness to it and your flesh may be justified.

See that it never enters your heart that this flesh of yours is perishable, and that you misuse it in some defilement. If you defile your flesh, you will also defile the Holy Spirit; and if you defile the flesh, you will not live.”

“But if, sir,” I said, “there was ignorance before these words were heard, how will the person who defiled his flesh be saved?” “For former sins of ignorance,” he said, “it is possible for God alone to give healing; for all authority is his,

if from now on you do not defile your flesh or the Spirit; for both are common, and one cannot be defiled without the other. Keep both pure, then, and you will live to God.”

As I was sitting in my house and glorifying the Lord for all that I had seen, and considering the commandments, that they are good and powerful and cheerful and glorious and able to save a person's soul, I said to myself, “I shall be blessed if I walk in these commandments, and whoever walks in them will be blessed.”

As I was saying these things to myself, I suddenly saw him sitting beside me and saying this: “Why are you double-minded about the commandments I gave you? They are good; do not be double-minded at all, but put on faith in the Lord, and you will walk in them; for I will strengthen you in them.

These commandments are profitable for those who are going to repent; for if they do not walk in them, their repentance is in vain.

You who repent, then, cast off the wicked things of this world that wear you away; and putting on every virtue of righteousness, you will be able to keep these commandments and no longer add to your sins. Walk, then, in these commandments of mine, and you will live to God. All these things have been spoken to you by me.”

And after he had spoken these things with me, he said to me, “Let us go into the country, and I will show you the shepherds of the sheep.” “Let us go, sir,” I said. And we came to a certain plain, and he showed me a young shepherd dressed in a suit of clothes saffron in color.

He was pasturing very many sheep, and these sheep were as it were living in luxury and very wanton, and cheerful, skipping here and there; and the shepherd himself was very cheerful over his flock; and the shepherd's very appearance was very cheerful, and he ran about among the sheep.

And he said to me, “Do you see this shepherd?” “I see him, sir,” I said. “This,” he said, “is the angel of luxury and deceit. He wears away the souls of God's servants and turns them away from the truth, deceiving them with the evil desires in which they perish.

For they forget the commandments of the living God and walk in deceits and vain luxuries and are destroyed by this angel, some to death and some to corruption.”

I said to him, “Sir, I do not know what ‘to death’ and ‘to corruption’ mean.” “Hear,” he said: “the sheep you saw cheerful and skipping are those who have been torn away from God completely and have given themselves over to the desires of this world. In these, then, there is no repentance to life, because they have added to their sins and blasphemed the name of God. Death belongs to such people.

But the sheep you saw not skipping, but feeding in one place, are those who have given themselves over to luxuries and deceits but have not blasphemed the Lord at all. These, then, are corrupted from the truth. In these there is hope of repentance, in which they can live. Corruption, then, has hope of some renewal, but death has eternal destruction.

Again I went on a little, and he showed me a great shepherd, like a wild man in appearance, clothed in a white goatskin, and he had a bag on his shoulders and a very hard, knotted staff and a great whip; and his look was very bitter, so that I was afraid of him; such was his look.

This shepherd, then, took from the young shepherd those sheep that were wanton and in luxury but not skipping, and drove them into a place that was steep and full of thorns and thistles, so that the sheep could not disentangle themselves from the thorns and thistles, but got entangled in the thorns and thistles.

So these, entangled, fed among the thorns and thistles and suffered greatly, being beaten by him; and he drove them here and there and gave them no rest, and those sheep were not at peace at all.

When I saw them being whipped and suffering like this, I was grieved for them, because they were tormented so and had no relief at all.

I said to the shepherd who was talking with me, “Sir, who is this shepherd who is so pitiless and bitter and has no compassion at all on these sheep?” “This,” he said, “is the angel of punishment; he is one of the righteous angels, but is set over punishment.

He takes, then, those who wander from God and walk in the desires and deceits of this world, and punishes them as they deserve with terrible and various punishments.”

“I would like to know, sir,” I said, “what these various punishments are.” “Hear,” he said, “the various torments and punishments. The torments belong to this life: for some are punished with losses, others with want, others with various sicknesses, others with every kind of instability, others by being insulted by unworthy people and suffering in many other ways.

For many, being unstable in their plans, undertake many things, and nothing at all succeeds for them. And they say that they do not prosper in their undertakings, and it does not enter their heart that they have done evil deeds, but they blame the Lord.

When, then, they have been afflicted with every affliction, then they are handed over to me for good instruction, and are strengthened in the faith of the Lord, and for the rest of the days of their life they serve the Lord with a pure heart. And if they repent, then the evil deeds they did come into their heart, and then they glorify God, saying that he is a righteous judge and that they have suffered justly, each according to his deeds; and from then on they serve the Lord with a pure heart and prosper in all they do, receiving from the Lord everything they ask; and then they glorify the Lord because they were handed over to me, and they no longer suffer any evil.”

I said to him, “Sir, make this also clear to me.” “What are you asking?” he said. “Whether, sir,” I said, “those who live in luxury and deceit are tormented for the same length of time as they lived in luxury and deceit.” He said to me, “They are tormented for the same length of time.”

“They are tormented very little, sir,” I said; “for those who live in such luxury and forget God ought to be tormented sevenfold.”

He said to me, “You are foolish and do not understand the power of torment.” “If I understood, sir,” I said, “I would not have asked you to make it clear to me.” “Hear,” he said, “the power of both.

The time of luxury and deceit is one hour; but the hour of torment has the power of thirty days. If, then, someone lives in luxury and is deceived for one day, and is tormented for one day, the day of torment is worth a whole year. As many days, then, as someone lives in luxury, so many years is he tormented. You see, then,” he said, “that the time of luxury and deceit is very short, but that of punishment and torment long.”

“I still, sir,” I said, “have not understood at all about the time of deceit and luxury and torment; make it clearer to me.”

He answered me, “Your foolishness is persistent, and you do not wish to cleanse your heart and serve God. See,” he said, “that the time is not fulfilled and you are found foolish. Hear, then,” he said, “as you wish, so that you may understand them.

The one who lives in luxury and deceit for one day and does what he wishes is clothed in much folly and does not understand what he is doing; for the next day he forgets what he did the day before; for luxury and deceit have no memories because of the folly they are clothed in. But punishment and torment, when they cling to a person for one day, punish and torment him for up to a year; for punishment and torment have long memories.

Being tormented and punished, then, for a whole year, he then remembers the luxury and deceit and knows that it is because of them that he suffers these evils. Every person, then, who lives in luxury and deceit is tormented in this way, because having life they have handed themselves over to death.”

“What kinds of luxury, sir,” I said, “are harmful?” “Every action,” he said, “that a person does with pleasure is luxury to him; for the bad-tempered man, giving full rein to his passion, lives in luxury; and the adulterer and the drunkard and the slanderer and the liar and the covetous and the robber and whoever does things like these gives full rein to his own disease; he lives in luxury, then, in his conduct.

All these luxuries are harmful to the servants of God. Because of these deceits, then, those who are punished and tormented suffer.

But there are also luxuries that save people; for many who do good live in luxury, carried along by their own pleasure. This luxury, then, is profitable to the servants of God and brings life to such a person; but the harmful luxuries mentioned before bring torments and punishments upon them; and if they persist and do not repent, they bring death upon themselves.”

After a few days I saw him in the same plain where I had also seen the shepherds, and he said to me, “What are you looking for?” “I am here, sir,” I said, “so that you may order the punishing shepherd to leave my house, because he afflicts me greatly.” “You must be afflicted,” he said; “for so the glorious angel has commanded concerning you; for he wishes you to be tested.” “What, then, sir,” I said, “have I done so wicked that I should be handed over to this angel?”

“Hear,” he said: “your sins are many, but not so many that you should be handed over to this angel; but your household has committed great lawless deeds and sins, and the glorious angel was provoked at their deeds, and for this reason he ordered you to be afflicted for a time, so that they too might repent and cleanse themselves from every desire of this world. When, then, they have repented and been cleansed, then the angel of punishment will depart from you.”

I said to him, “Sir, if they did such things that the glorious angel was provoked, what have I done?” “They cannot be afflicted otherwise,” he said, “unless you, the head of the household, are afflicted; for when you are afflicted they will of necessity be afflicted, but while you prosper they can have no affliction.”

“But look, sir,” I said, “they have repented with their whole heart.” “I know too,” he said, “that they have repented with their whole heart. Do you think, then, that the sins of those who repent are forgiven at once? Not at all; but the one who repents must torment his own soul and be strongly humble in all he does and be afflicted with all kinds of afflictions; and if he endures the afflictions that come upon him, surely the one who created and strengthened all things will have compassion and give him some healing;

and this surely, if he sees that the heart of the one who repents is pure from every evil deed. But it is profitable for you and your household to be afflicted now. But why do I say much to you? You must be afflicted, as that angel of the Lord who handed you over to me has commanded; and give thanks to the Lord for this, that he counted you worthy to show you the affliction beforehand, so that, knowing it in advance, you may bear it bravely.”

I said to him, “Sir, be with me, and I shall be able to bear any affliction.” “I will be with you,” he said, “and I will also ask the punishing angel to afflict you more lightly; but you will be afflicted for a short time and then be restored to your house. Only remain humble and serve the Lord with a wholly pure heart, you and your children and your household, and walk in my commandments that I give you, and your repentance can be strong and pure;

and if you keep them with your household, all affliction will depart from you; and affliction will depart,” he said, “from all who walk in these commandments of mine.”

He showed me a great willow tree overshadowing plains and mountains, and under the shade of the willow had come all who have been called in the name of the Lord.

And a glorious angel of the Lord, very tall, was standing beside the willow, with a great pruning knife, and he was cutting branches from the willow and giving them to the people sheltered by the willow; and he gave them small sticks, about a cubit long.

After all had received the sticks, the angel put down the knife, and that tree was sound, just as I had seen it before.

And I wondered to myself, saying, “How is the tree sound when so many branches have been cut?” The shepherd said to me, “Do not wonder that this tree remained sound when so many branches were cut; but when you see everything,” he said, “it will be made clear to you what it is.”

The angel who had given the sticks to the people asked for them back again; and as they had received them, so they were called to him, and each of them gave back the sticks. And the angel of the Lord took them and examined them.

From some he received the sticks dry and eaten as if by a moth; the angel ordered those who had given back such sticks to stand apart.

Others gave them back dry, but not eaten by a moth; and these too he ordered to stand apart.

Others gave them back half-dry; and these stood apart.

Others gave back their sticks half-dry and with cracks; and these stood apart.

Others gave back their sticks green and with cracks; and these stood apart.

Others gave back their sticks half dry and half green; and these stood apart.

Others brought their sticks two-thirds green and one-third dry; and these stood apart.

Others gave them back two-thirds dry and one-third green; and these stood apart.

Others gave back their sticks nearly all green, but a very small part of their sticks was dry, just the tip; but they had cracks in them; and these stood apart.

Of others a very small part was green, and the rest of the sticks dry; and these stood apart.

Others came bringing their sticks green as they had received them from the angel; and the greater part of the crowd gave back such sticks. And the angel rejoiced greatly at these; and these stood apart.

Others gave back their sticks green and with shoots; and these stood apart; and the angel rejoiced greatly at these.

Others gave back their sticks green and with shoots; and their shoots had some fruit, as it were; and the people whose sticks were found so were very cheerful. And the angel exulted over them, and the shepherd was very cheerful over them.

And the angel of the Lord ordered crowns to be brought. And crowns were brought, made as it were of palm leaves, and he crowned the men who had given back the sticks that had shoots and some fruit, and sent them away into the tower.

And he sent the others also into the tower, those who had given back the green sticks with shoots, but whose shoots had no fruit, giving them seals.

And all who went into the tower had the same clothing, white as snow.

And those who had given back their sticks green as they received them he sent away, giving them clothing and seals.

After the angel had finished these things, he said to the shepherd, “I am going away; but you shall send these away to the walls, as each is worthy to dwell. But examine their sticks carefully and so send them away; examine them carefully. See that no one gets past you,” he said; “and if anyone gets past you, I will test them at the altar.” Having said this to the shepherd, he went away.

And after the angel had gone away, the shepherd said to me, “Let us take the sticks of all and plant them, to see whether any of them can live.” I said to him, “Sir, how can these dry ones live?”

He answered me, “This tree is a willow and of a kind that loves life; if, then, the sticks are planted and receive a little moisture, many of them will live. Then let us also try pouring water on them. If any of them can live, I will rejoice with them; and if it does not live, I at least shall not be found negligent.”

And the shepherd told me to call them, as each of them had stood. They came in their groups and gave the sticks to the shepherd; and the shepherd took the sticks and planted them in groups, and after planting them he poured much water on them, so that the sticks could not be seen for the water.

And after he had watered the sticks, he said to me, “Let us go, and after a few days let us come back and inspect all the sticks; for the one who created this tree wishes all who received branches from this tree to live. And I too hope that when these sticks have received moisture and been watered, the greater part of them will live.”

I said to him, “Sir, make known to me what this tree is; for I am perplexed about it, that though so many branches were cut, the tree is sound and nothing seems to have been cut from it. This is what perplexes me.”

“Hear,” he said: “this great tree that overshadows plains and mountains and all the earth is the law of God that was given to the whole world; and this law is the Son of God preached to the ends of the earth; and the peoples under its shade are those who have heard the preaching and believed in him.

And the great and glorious angel is Michael, who has authority over this people and governs them; for it is he who puts the law into the hearts of those who believe. He inspects, then, those to whom he gave it, to see whether they have kept it.

And you see the sticks of each one; for the sticks are the law. You see, then, many sticks spoiled, and you will know all of them, those who did not keep the law; and you will see the dwelling place of each.”

I said to him, “Sir, why did he send some away into the tower and leave others to you?” “All who transgressed the law,” he said, “which they received from him, he left under my authority for repentance; but those who have already pleased the law and kept it, he keeps under his own authority.”

“Who, then, sir,” I said, “are those who were crowned and went into the tower?” “All who wrestled with the devil and conquered him,” he said, “are crowned; these are those who suffered for the law.

And the others, who also gave back their sticks green and with shoots, but without fruit, are those who were afflicted for the law but did not suffer, nor did they deny their law.

And those who gave them back green as they received them are reverent and righteous, and have walked very much with a pure heart, and have kept the commandments of the Lord. The rest you will know when I examine these sticks that have been planted and watered.”

And after a few days we came to the place, and the shepherd sat down in the angel's place, and I stood beside him. And he said to me, “Gird yourself with a towel and serve me.” I girded myself with a clean towel made of sackcloth.

When he saw me girded and ready to serve him, he said, “Call the men whose sticks have been planted, in order, as each gave his sticks.” And I went away to the plain and called all of them; and they all stood in their groups.

He said to them, “Let each pull up his own sticks and bring them to me.”

First those who had had the dry and cut sticks gave them in, and as these were found dry and cut, he ordered them to stand apart.

Then those who had the dry but uncut sticks gave them in; some of them gave in their sticks green, and some dry and cut as by a moth. Those who gave them in green he ordered to stand apart, and those who gave them in dry and cut he ordered to stand with the first.

Then those gave them in who had the half-dry ones with cracks; and many of them gave them in green and without cracks; some green and with shoots, and fruit on the shoots, like those who went into the tower crowned. Some gave them in dry and eaten, some dry and uneaten, and some as they were, half-dry and with cracks. He ordered each of them to stand apart, some with their own groups and some apart.

Then those gave in their sticks who had them green but with cracks; these all gave them in green and stood in their own group. And the shepherd rejoiced over these, because they had all been changed and had put away their cracks.

And those also gave them in who had them half green and half dry; of some the sticks were found wholly green, of some half-dry, of some dry and eaten, and of some green and with shoots. These were all sent away, each to his group.

Then those gave them in who had two parts green and the third dry. Many of them gave them in green, many half-dry, and others dry and eaten; these all stood in their own group.

Then those gave them in who had two parts dry and the third green; many of them gave them in half-dry, some dry and eaten, others half-dry and with cracks, and a few green; these all stood in their own group.

And those gave them in who had had their sticks green, but a very little dry and with cracks; of these some gave them in green, and some green and with shoots; these too went away to their group.

Then those gave them in who had a very little green and the rest dry; their sticks were found for the most part green and with shoots, and fruit on the shoots, and others wholly green. The shepherd rejoiced exceedingly over these sticks, because they were found so. And these went away, each to his own group.

After the shepherd had examined the sticks of all, he said to me, “I told you that this tree loves life. Do you see,” he said, “how many have repented and been saved?” “I see, sir,” I said. “It is so that you may see,” he said, “the great compassion of the Lord, that it is great and glorious, and that he has given the spirit to those who are worthy of repentance.”

“Why, then, sir,” I said, “did not all repent?” “Those whose hearts he saw would become pure and serve him with their whole heart,” he said, “to them he gave repentance; but those whose deceit and wickedness he saw, who would repent in hypocrisy, to them he did not give repentance, lest they profane his name again.”

I said to him, “Sir, now make clear to me those who gave in the sticks, what each of them is like, and their dwelling place, so that those who have believed and received the seal and broken it and not kept it whole, when they hear, may recognize their own deeds and repent, receiving a seal from you, and glorify the Lord that he had compassion on them and sent you to renew their spirits.”

“Hear,” he said: “those whose sticks were found dry and eaten by a moth are the apostates and traitors of the church, who in their sins blasphemed the Lord, and moreover were ashamed of the name of the Lord that was invoked over them. These, then, have perished to God forever. And you see that not one of them repented, although they heard the words that you spoke to them, which I commanded you; life has departed from such people.

And those who gave in the dry but unrotted ones are also near them; for they were hypocrites and brought in strange teachings and perverted God's servants, especially those who had sinned, not allowing them to repent, but persuading them with their foolish teachings. These, then, have hope of repenting.

And you see that many of them have repented since I spoke my commandments to them; and more will repent. But those who do not repent have lost their life. And those of them who repented became good, and their dwelling was in the first walls; and some even went up into the tower. You see, then,” he said, “that repentance from sins has life, but not to repent has death.

And hear about those who gave them in half-dry and with cracks in them. Those whose sticks were half-dry are double-minded; for they are neither alive nor dead.

And those who had them half-dry and with cracks in them are both double-minded and slanderers, and never at peace among themselves, but always causing divisions. But for these too,” he said, “repentance is laid down. You see,” he said, “that some of them have repented. And there is still,” he said, “hope of repentance among them.

And those of them,” he said, “who have repented will have their dwelling in the tower; those of them who have repented more slowly will dwell in the walls; but those who do not repent, but remain in their deeds, will surely die.

And those who gave in their sticks green and with cracks have always been faithful and good, but had some jealousy among themselves about first places and about some glory; but all these are foolish, having jealousy among themselves about first places.

But these too, when they heard my commandments, being good, cleansed themselves and repented quickly. So their dwelling was in the tower; but if anyone turns again to division, he will be cast out of the tower and will lose his life.

Life belongs to all who keep the Lord's commandments; and in the commandments there is nothing about first places or about any glory, but about patience and a person's humility. In such people, then, is the life of the Lord, but in those who cause divisions and break the law, death.

Those who gave in their sticks half green and half dry are those who are mixed up in business affairs and do not cling to the saints; for this reason half of them lives and half is dead.

Many, then, when they heard my commandments, repented. Those, then, who repented have their dwelling in the tower. But some of them finally fell away. These, then, have no repentance; for because of their business affairs they blasphemed the Lord and denied him. They have lost their life, then, because of the wickedness they did.

And many of them were double-minded. These still have repentance, if they repent quickly, and their dwelling will be in the tower; but if they repent more slowly, they will dwell in the walls; and if they do not repent, they too have lost their life.

And those who gave them in two parts green and the third dry are those who have denied with denials of various kinds.

Many of them, then, repented and went away to dwell in the tower; but many finally departed from God; these have finally lost life. And some of them were double-minded and caused divisions. For these, then, there is repentance, if they repent quickly and do not remain in their pleasures; but if they remain in their deeds, these too are bringing death on themselves.

Those who gave in their sticks two parts dry and the third green are those who became believers but grew rich and became honored among the Gentiles; they put on great arrogance and became proud, and abandoned the truth and did not cling to the righteous, but lived together with the Gentiles, and this way became more pleasant to them; yet they did not depart from God, but remained in the faith, though not doing the works of faith.

Many of them, then, repented, and their dwelling was in the tower.

But others, living with the Gentiles to the end and being corrupted by the vanities of the Gentiles, departed from God and did the deeds of the Gentiles. These were reckoned with the Gentiles.

And others of them were double-minded, not hoping to be saved because of the deeds they had done; and others were double-minded and made divisions among themselves. For these, then, who were double-minded because of their deeds, there is still repentance; but their repentance ought to be quick, so that their dwelling may be in the tower; but for those who do not repent but remain in their pleasures, death is near.

Those who gave in their sticks green, but with the tips themselves dry and with cracks, have always been good and faithful and glorious before God, but they sinned a very little because of small desires and having small grievances against one another. But when they heard my words, most of them quickly repented, and their dwelling was in the tower.

But some of them were double-minded, and some, being double-minded, made a greater division. In these, then, there is hope of repentance, because they have always been good; it will be hard for any of them to die.

And those who gave in their sticks dry, but with a very little green, are those who only believed, but did the works of lawlessness; but they never departed from God, and they gladly bore the name, and gladly welcomed God's servants into their homes. Having heard, then, of this repentance, they repented without hesitation and do every virtue and righteousness.

And some of them are even afraid, knowing the deeds they did. The dwelling of all these, then, will be in the tower.

And after he had finished the explanations of all the sticks, he said to me, “Go and tell everyone to repent, and they will live to God; for the Lord, having compassion, sent me to give repentance to all, although some are not worthy because of their deeds; but the Lord, being patient, wishes the calling that came through his Son to be saved.”

I said to him, “Sir, I hope that all who hear these things will repent; for I am persuaded that each one, recognizing his own deeds and fearing God, will repent.”

He answered me, “All,” he said, “who repent with their whole heart and cleanse themselves from the wicked things mentioned before and add nothing more to their sins will receive healing from the Lord for their former sins, if they are not double-minded about these commandments, and they will live to God. But all,” he said, “who add to their sins and walk in the desires of this world will condemn themselves to death.

But you, walk in my commandments, and you will live to God; and all who walk in them and do rightly will live to God.”

When he had shown and told me all these things, he said to me, “The rest I will show you after a few days.”

After I had written down the commandments and parables of the shepherd, the angel of repentance, he came to me and said to me, “I wish to show you all that the Holy Spirit showed you, who spoke with you in the form of the church; for that Spirit is the Son of God.

For since you were weaker in the flesh, it was not made clear to you through an angel. But when you were strengthened through the Spirit and grew strong in your strength, so that you could see even an angel, then the building of the tower was made manifest to you through the church. You saw everything well and reverently, as from a virgin. But now you see through an angel, though by the same Spirit;

but you must learn everything more exactly from me. For this is why I was given by the glorious angel to dwell in your house, so that you might see everything powerfully, not being afraid in anything as before.

And he led me away to Arcadia, to a certain breast-shaped mountain, and set me on the top of the mountain and showed me a great plain, and around the plain twelve mountains, each mountain having a different appearance.

The first was black as soot; the second bare, having no vegetation; the third full of thorns and thistles;

the fourth had half-dry plants, the upper parts of the plants green but those near the roots dry; and some of the plants became dry when the sun had scorched them;

the fifth mountain had green plants and was rugged. The sixth mountain was full of cracks, some small and some large; and the cracks had plants in them, but the plants were not very flourishing, but rather as if withered.

The seventh mountain had cheerful plants, and the whole mountain was flourishing, and every kind of cattle and bird fed on that mountain; and the more the cattle and the birds fed, the more the plants of that mountain flourished. The eighth mountain was full of springs, and every kind of the Lord's creation drank from the springs of that mountain.

The ninth mountain had no water at all and was altogether desert. It had in it wild beasts and deadly reptiles that destroy people. The tenth mountain had very great trees and was all shady, and under the shade of the trees sheep lay resting and chewing the cud.

The eleventh mountain was very thickly wooded, and those trees were full of fruit, adorned with various fruits, so that anyone who saw them would long to eat of their fruit. The twelfth mountain was all white, and its appearance was cheerful; and the mountain was very beautiful in itself.

And in the middle of the plain he showed me a great white rock that had risen out of the plain. And the rock was higher than the mountains, and square, so that it could hold the whole world.

That rock was old, having a gate cut out of it; but the cutting of the gate seemed to me to be recent. And the gate shone beyond the sun, so that I marveled at the brightness of the gate.

And around the gate stood twelve virgins. The four who stood at the corners seemed to me more glorious; but the others also were glorious. They stood at the four sides of the gate, with two virgins between each of them.

They were dressed in linen tunics and were girded becomingly, with their right shoulders bare, as if about to carry some load. So ready were they; for they were very cheerful and eager.

After I saw these things I marveled to myself, because I was seeing great and glorious things. And again I was perplexed about the virgins, that though they were so delicate they stood like men, as if about to carry the whole heaven.

And the shepherd said to me, “Why are you reasoning and perplexed within yourself and bringing grief on yourself? For whatever you cannot understand, do not attempt, if you are wise, but ask the Lord, so that you may receive understanding and understand them.

You cannot see what is behind you, but you see what is in front of you. What you cannot see, then, leave alone, and do not torment yourself; but master what you see, and do not be curious about the rest. But I will make clear to you everything that I show you. Look, then, at the rest.”

I saw six men come, tall and glorious and alike in appearance; and they called a multitude of men. And those who came were also tall men, handsome and strong; and the six men ordered them to build a tower above the rock. And there was a great commotion of those men who had come to build the tower, running here and there around the gate.

And the virgins standing around the gate told the men to hurry the building of the tower; and the virgins had spread out their hands as if about to receive something from the men.

And the six men ordered stones to come up from a certain deep and go into the building of the tower. And ten square, shining stones came up, not hewn.

And the six men called the virgins and ordered them to carry all the stones that were to go into the building of the tower, and to pass through the gate and hand them to the men who were to build the tower.

And the virgins placed the first ten stones that came up from the deep upon one another and carried them together, one stone at a time.

And as they had stood together around the gate, so they carried them, those who seemed to be strong having gone under the corners of the stone, and the others under its sides; and so they carried all the stones. They brought them through the gate, as they had been ordered, and handed them to the men for the tower; and they took the stones and built.

The building of the tower was on the great rock and above the gate. Those ten stones were fitted together and filled the whole rock; and they became the foundation of the building of the tower; and the rock and the gate were supporting the whole tower.

After the ten stones, twenty other stones came up from the deep; and these were fitted into the building of the tower, carried by the virgins as the first were. After these, thirty-five came up, and these likewise were fitted into the tower. After these, forty other stones came up, and these were all put into the building of the tower; so there were four courses in the foundations of the tower.

And they stopped coming up from the deep; and the builders also stopped for a little. And again the six men commanded the multitude of the crowd to bring stones from the mountains for the building of the tower.

So they were brought from all the mountains, of various colors, hewn by the men, and were handed to the virgins; and the virgins carried them through the gate and handed them over for the building of the tower. And when the various stones were put into the building, they became alike and white and changed their various colors.

But some stones were handed over by the men for the building and did not become bright, but as they were put in, so they were found; for they had not been handed over by the virgins, nor brought through the gate. These stones, then, were unsightly in the building of the tower.

When the six men saw the unsightly stones in the building, they ordered them to be taken away and carried down to their own place from which they had been brought.

And they said to the men who were bringing the stones, “Do not yourselves hand over any stones at all for the building; but put them beside the tower, so that the virgins may carry them through the gate and hand them over for the building. For if,” they said, “they are not carried through the gate by the hands of these virgins, they cannot change their colors; do not labor in vain, then.”

And the building was finished on that day, but the tower was not completed; for it was to be built up further; and there was a pause in the building. And the six men ordered all the builders to withdraw a little and rest; but they commanded the virgins not to withdraw from the tower. And it seemed to me that the virgins had been left to guard the tower.

After all had withdrawn and rested, I said to the shepherd, “Why, sir,” I said, “was the building of the tower not finished?” “The tower cannot yet be completed,” he said, “unless its lord comes and tests this building, so that if any stones are found rotten he may change them; for the tower is built according to his will.”

“I would like to know, sir,” I said, “what this building of this tower is, and about the rock and gate and the mountains and the virgins and the stones that came up from the deep and were not hewn, but went as they were into the building.

And why first ten stones were placed in the foundations, then twenty, then thirty-five, then forty, and about the stones that went into the building and were taken out again and put away in their own place: about all these things set my soul at rest, sir, and make them known to me.”

“If,” he said, “you are not found to be vainly curious, you will know everything; for after a few days we shall come here, and you will see the rest of what happens to this tower and will know all the parables exactly.”

And after a few days we came to the place where we had sat, and he said to me, “Let us go to the tower; for the owner of the tower is coming to inspect it.” And we came to the tower; and there was no one at all by it except the virgins alone.

And the shepherd asked the virgins whether the master of the tower had arrived. And they said that he was about to come to inspect the building.

And behold, after a little I saw an array of many men coming; and in the middle was a man so tall in stature that he towered above the tower.

And the six men who were in charge of the building walked with him on the right and on the left, and all who had worked on the building were with him, and many other glorious ones around him. And the virgins who were guarding the tower ran up and kissed him and began to walk near him around the tower.

And that man examined the building carefully, so that he felt each stone. And holding a rod in his hand, he struck each stone that had been built in.

And when he struck them, some of them became black as soot, some rough, some with cracks, some cut short, some neither white nor black, some rough and not fitting with the other stones, and some with many spots. These were the varieties of the stones that were found rotten in the building.

He ordered, then, all these to be removed from the tower and put beside the tower, and other stones to be brought and put in their place.

And the builders asked him from which mountain he wished stones to be brought and put in their place. And he did not order them to be brought from the mountains, but ordered them to be brought from a certain plain nearby.

And the plain was dug, and shining square stones were found, and some round ones too. And all the stones that there were in that plain were brought and carried through the gate by the virgins.

And the square stones were hewn and put in the place of those that had been removed; but the round ones were not put into the building, because they were hard to hew and took a long time. But they were put beside the tower, as though they were to be hewn and put into the building; for they were very bright.

When, then, the glorious man, the lord of the whole tower, had finished these things, he called the shepherd and handed over to him all the stones lying beside the tower, those that had been rejected from the building, and said to him,

“Cleanse these stones carefully and put into the building of the tower those that can fit with the rest; but those that do not fit, throw far from the tower.”

Having commanded the shepherd these things, he went away from the tower with all with whom he had come; but the virgins stood around the tower guarding it.

I said to the shepherd, “How can these stones go into the building of the tower after being rejected?” He answered me, “Do you see,” he said, “these stones?” “I see them, sir,” I said. “I,” he said, “will hew the greater part of these stones and put them into the building, and they will fit with the rest of the stones.”

“How, sir,” I said, “can they fill the same place when they have been cut down?” He answered me, “Those that are found small will be put into the middle of the building, and those that are larger will be put on the outside and will hold them together.”

Having said these things to me, he said to me, “Let us go, and after two days let us come and cleanse these stones and put them into the building; for everything around the tower must be cleansed, lest the master come suddenly and find the surroundings of the tower dirty and be offended, and these stones not go into the building of the tower, and I seem negligent to the master.”

And after two days we came to the tower, and he said to me, “Let us examine all the stones and see those that can go into the building.” I said to him, “Sir, let us examine them.”

And beginning first with the black stones, we examined them. And as they had been put out of the building, so they were found. And the shepherd ordered them to be removed from the tower and set apart.

Then he examined the rough ones, and he took and hewed many of them, and ordered the virgins to take them up and put them into the building. And the virgins took them up and put them into the middle of the building of the tower. The rest he ordered to be put with the black ones; for these too were found black.

Then he examined those that had cracks; and he hewed many of these, and ordered them to be carried away by the virgins into the building; and they were placed on the outside, because they were found to be sounder. But the rest could not be hewn because of the number of their cracks; for this reason, then, they were rejected from the building of the tower.

Then he examined the ones cut short, and many among them were found black, and some had developed great cracks; and he ordered these too to be put with the rejected ones. The rest of them he cleansed and hewed and ordered to be put into the building. And the virgins took them up and fitted them into the middle of the building of the tower; for they were weaker.

Then he examined those half white and half black; and many of them were found black. And he ordered these too to be taken away with the rejected ones. But all the rest were taken up by the virgins; for being white they were fitted into the building by the virgins themselves; and they were put on the outside, because they were found sound, so that they could hold together those put in the middle; for nothing at all of them had been cut short.

Then he examined the rough and hard ones; and a few of them were rejected because they could not be hewn; for they were found very hard. The rest of them were hewn and taken up by the virgins and fitted into the middle of the building of the tower; for they were weaker.

Then he examined those that had spots; and of these very few had turned black and were thrown out with the rest. But the remainder were found bright and sound; and these were fitted into the building by the virgins, and were put on the outside because of their strength.

Then he came to examine the white and round stones and said to me, “What shall we do about these stones?” “How should I know, sir?” I said. “Do you not have any idea about them, then?”

“I, sir,” I said, “do not have this skill; I am not a stonecutter, nor can I understand it.” “Do you not see,” he said, “that they are very round? And if I wish to make them square, much must be cut from them; but some of them must necessarily be put into the building.”

“If, then, sir,” I said, “it is necessary, why do you torment yourself, and not choose for the building those you wish and fit them into it?” He chose from them the larger and bright ones and hewed them; and the virgins took them up and fitted them into the outer parts of the building.

And the rest that remained were taken up and put back in the plain from which they had been brought; but they were not thrown away, “because,” he said, “a little of the tower still remains to be built. And the master of the tower wishes all these stones to be fitted into the building, because they are very bright.”

And twelve women were called, very beautiful in form, dressed in black, girded, with their shoulders bare and their hair loose; and these women seemed to me to be wild. And the shepherd ordered them to take up the stones rejected from the building and carry them away to the mountains from which they had been brought.

And they cheerfully took up and carried away all the stones and put them back where they had been taken from. And after all the stones had been taken away and no stone lay any longer around the tower, the shepherd said to me, “Let us go around the tower and see whether there is any defect in it.” And I went around with him.

And when the shepherd saw that the tower was beautiful in its building, he was very cheerful; for the tower was so built that when I saw it I longed for its building; for it was built as if of one stone, not having a single joint in it. And the stone looked as if it had been hewn out of the rock; for it seemed to me to be a single stone.

And I, walking with him, was cheerful at seeing such good things. And the shepherd said to me, “Go and bring lime and fine clay, so that I may fill up the marks of the stones that were taken out and put into the building; for everything around the tower must be made level.”

And I did as he ordered and brought them to him. “Serve me,” he said, “and the work will soon be finished.” So he filled up the marks of the stones that had gone into the building and ordered the area around the tower to be swept and made clean.

And the virgins took brooms and swept, and removed all the refuse from the tower and sprinkled water, and the place of the tower became cheerful and very beautiful.

The shepherd said to me, “Everything,” he said, “has been cleansed; if the lord comes to inspect the tower, he has nothing to blame us for.” Having said this he wished to go away.

But I took hold of his bag and began to adjure him by the Lord to explain to me what he had shown me. He said to me, “I have to be busy for a little, and I will explain everything to you; wait for me here until I come.”

I said to him, “Sir, what shall I do, alone here?” “You are not alone,” he said; “for these virgins are with you.” “Hand me over to them, then,” I said. The shepherd called them and said to them, “I entrust him to you until I come”; and he went away.

And I was alone with the virgins; and they were more cheerful and were well disposed toward me, especially the four more glorious of them.

The virgins said to me, “Today the shepherd is not coming here.” “What, then, shall I do?” I said. “Wait for him until evening,” they said; “and if he comes, he will speak with you, but if he does not come, you will stay with us here until he comes.”

I said to them, “I will wait for him until evening; but if he does not come, I will go away home and come back early in the morning.” And they answered me, “You have been entrusted to us; you cannot go away from us.”

“Where, then,” I said, “shall I stay?” “With us,” they said, “you will sleep as a brother, and not as a husband; for you are our brother, and from now on we are going to dwell with you, for we love you very much.” But I was ashamed to stay with them.

And the one who seemed to be first among them began to kiss and embrace me. And the others, seeing her embracing me, themselves began to kiss me and lead me around the tower and play with me.

And I had become as it were younger, and I too began to play with them; for some danced, some moved in rhythm, and some sang; and I, keeping silence, walked with them around the tower and was cheerful with them.

When evening came I wanted to go home; but they did not let me, but kept me back. And I stayed with them that night and slept beside the tower.

For the virgins spread their linen tunics on the ground and made me lie down in their midst, and they did nothing at all but pray; and I prayed with them without ceasing, and no less than they. And the virgins rejoiced that I prayed so. And I stayed there with the virgins until the next day, until the second hour.

Then the shepherd came, and said to the virgins, “You have not done him any insult?” “Ask him,” they said. I said to him, “Sir, I rejoiced to stay with them.” “What,” he said, “did you have for supper?” “I had for supper, sir,” I said, “the words of the Lord all night long.” “Did they receive you well?” he said. “Yes, sir,” I said.

“Now,” he said, “what do you want to hear first?” “As you showed it from the beginning, sir,” I said; “I ask you, sir, that as I ask you, so you make it clear to me.” “As you wish,” he said, “so I will explain to you, and I will hide nothing at all from you.”

“First of all, sir,” I said, “make this clear to me: what is the rock and the gate?” “This rock,” he said, “and the gate is the Son of God.” “How, sir,” I said, “is the rock old, but the gate new?” “Hear,” he said, “and understand, you who do not understand.

The Son of God is older than all his creation, so that he became the Father's counselor for his creation; this is why the rock is old.” “And why is the gate new, sir?” I said.

“Because,” he said, “he was made manifest in the last days of the consummation; this is why the gate was made new, so that those who are to be saved may enter the kingdom of God through it.

Did you see,” he said, “that the stones that came in through the gate were put into the building of the tower, but those that did not come in were thrown back again to their own place?” “I saw, sir,” I said. “So,” he said, “no one will enter the kingdom of God unless he receives his holy name.

For if you wish to enter a city, and that city is walled all around and has one gate, can you enter that city except through the gate it has?” “How, sir,” I said, “could it be otherwise?” “If, then, you cannot enter the city except through the gate it has, so,” he said, “a person cannot enter the kingdom of God in any other way than through the name of his Son, who is loved by him.

Did you see,” he said, “the crowd that was building the tower?” “I saw, sir,” I said. “They,” he said, “are all glorious angels; by these, then, the Lord is walled around. And the gate is the Son of God; this is the one entrance to the Lord. No one, then, will enter to him in any other way than through his Son.

Did you see,” he said, “the six men, and the glorious and great man in the middle of them, who walked around the tower and rejected the stones from the building?” “I saw, sir,” I said.

“The glorious man,” he said, “is the Son of God, and those six are the glorious angels who support him on the right and on the left. Of these glorious angels,” he said, “not one will enter to God without him; whoever does not receive his name will not enter the kingdom of God.”

“And the tower,” I said, “what is it?” “This tower,” he said, “is the church.”

“And these virgins, who are they?” “They,” he said, “are holy spirits; and a person cannot be found in the kingdom of God in any other way unless they clothe him with their garment. For if you receive only the name, but do not receive the garment from them, you will gain nothing; for these virgins are powers of the Son of God. If you bear the name but do not bear his power, you will bear his name in vain.

And the stones,” he said, “that you saw rejected are those who bore the name, but did not put on the clothing of the virgins.” “What is their clothing, sir?” I said. “Their very names,” he said, “are their clothing. Whoever bears the name of the Son of God ought to bear their names too; for the Son himself bears the names of these virgins.

All the stones,” he said, “that you saw come into the building of the tower, handed over by their hands and remaining in the building, are clothed with the power of these virgins.

This is why you see the tower become a single stone with the rock; so also those who have believed in the Lord through his Son and are clothed with these spirits will become one spirit, one body, and their garments of one color. And the dwelling of such as bear the names of the virgins is in the tower.

“The stones that were rejected, then, sir,” I said, “why were they rejected? For they passed through the gate and were put into the building of the tower by the hands of the virgins.” “Since you care about everything,” he said, “and examine it carefully, hear about the rejected stones.

These,” he said, “all received the name of the Son of God, and also received the power of these virgins. Having received these spirits, then, they were strengthened and were with the servants of God, and they had one spirit and one body and one garment; for they thought the same things and did righteousness.

After some time, then, they were persuaded by the women whom you saw dressed in black garments, with their shoulders bare and their hair loose, and beautiful; seeing them, they desired them and put on their power, and stripped off the garment and power of the virgins.

These, then, were cast out of the house of God and handed over to those women; but those who were not deceived by the beauty of these women remained in the house of God. You have,” he said, “the explanation of the rejected stones.”

“What, then, sir,” I said, “if these people, being such, repent and cast off the desires of these women, and return to the virgins and walk in their power and in their works, will they not enter the house of God?”

“They will enter,” he said, “if they cast off the works of these women and take up again the power of the virgins and walk in their works. For this is why there was also a pause in the building, so that if these repent they may go into the building of the tower. But if they do not repent, then others will enter, and these will be cast out finally.”

For all these things I gave thanks to the Lord, because he had compassion on all who call on his name, and sent the angel of repentance to us who had sinned against him, and renewed our spirit, and, when we were already corrupted and had no hope of living, restored our life.

“Now, sir,” I said, “make clear to me why the tower is not built on the ground, but on the rock and on the gate.” “Are you still foolish and without understanding?” he said. “I have to ask you everything, sir,” I said, “because I cannot understand anything at all; for all things are great and glorious and hard for people to understand.”

“Hear,” he said: “the name of the Son of God is great and incomprehensible and sustains the whole world. If, then, all creation is sustained by the Son of God, what do you think of those who are called by him and bear the name of the Son of God and walk in his commandments?

You see, then, whom he sustains? Those who bear his name with their whole heart. He himself, then, has become their foundation and gladly sustains them, because they are not ashamed to bear his name.

“Make known to me, sir,” I said, “the names of the virgins and of the women dressed in the black garments.” “Hear,” he said, “the names of the stronger virgins, those stationed at the corners.

The first is Faith, the second Self-control, the third Power, the fourth Patience; and the others, stationed between them, have these names: Simplicity, Innocence, Purity, Cheerfulness, Truth, Understanding, Concord, Love. Whoever bears these names and the name of the Son of God will be able to enter the kingdom of God.

Hear,” he said, “also the names of the women with the black garments. Of these too four are more powerful: the first is Unbelief, the second Incontinence, the third Disobedience, the fourth Deceit. And their followers are called Grief, Wickedness, Licentiousness, Bad temper, Falsehood, Folly, Slander, Hatred. The servant of God who bears these names will see the kingdom of God, but will not enter it.”

“And the stones, sir,” I said, “that were fitted into the building from the deep, who are they?” “The first,” he said, “the ten placed in the foundations, are the first generation; the twenty-five the second generation of righteous men; the thirty-five the prophets of God and his ministers; and the forty the apostles and teachers of the preaching of the Son of God.”

“Why, then, sir,” I said, “did the virgins hand over these stones too for the building of the tower, carrying them through the gate?”

“Because these,” he said, “were the first to bear these spirits, and they never departed from one another, neither the spirits from the men nor the men from the spirits, but the spirits remained with them until they fell asleep. And if they had not had these spirits with them, they would not have been useful for the building of this tower.”

“Make something more clear to me, sir,” I said. “What are you asking?” he said. “Why, sir,” I said, “did the stones come up from the deep and were put into the building of the tower, when they had already borne these spirits?”

“They had to come up through water,” he said, “so that they might be made alive; for they could not enter the kingdom of God in any other way unless they put off the deadness of their former life.

So these too, who had fallen asleep, received the seal of the Son of God and entered the kingdom of God. For before a person bears the name of the Son of God,” he said, “he is dead; but when he receives the seal, he puts off deadness and takes up life.

The seal, then, is the water; they go down into the water dead and come up alive. So to them too this seal was preached, and they made use of it, so that they might enter the kingdom of God.”

“Why, sir,” I said, “did the forty stones also come up with them from the deep, when they already had the seal?” “Because,” he said, “these apostles and teachers who preached the name of the Son of God, having fallen asleep in the power and faith of the Son of God, preached also to those who had fallen asleep before, and they themselves gave them the seal of the preaching.

So they went down with them into the water and came up again; but these went down alive and came up alive, while those who had fallen asleep before went down dead but came up alive.

Through these, then, they were made alive and came to know the name of the Son of God; this is why they came up with them and were fitted together into the building of the tower, and were built in with them without being hewn; for they had fallen asleep in righteousness and in great purity; only they did not have this seal. You have, then, the explanation of these also.” “I have, sir,” I said.

“Now, then, sir, make clear to me about the mountains: why are their appearances different and various?” “Hear,” he said: “these twelve mountains are the twelve tribes that inhabit the whole world. The Son of God was preached to these through the apostles.”

“But why are the mountains various, each of a different appearance? Make it clear to me, sir.” “Hear,” he said: “these twelve tribes that inhabit the whole world are twelve nations; and they are various in understanding and in mind; so as you saw the mountains various, so also are the varieties of mind and understanding of these nations. And I will make clear to you the conduct of each one.”

“First, sir,” I said, “make this clear: why, though the mountains are so various, when their stones were put into the building, they became bright with one color, like the stones that had come up from the deep?”

“Because,” he said, “all the nations that dwell under heaven, having heard and believed, were called by the name of the Son of God. So having received the seal, they had one understanding and one mind, and their faith became one and their love one, and they bore the spirits of the virgins along with the name; this is why the building of the tower became bright with one color like the sun.

But after they had come in together and become one body, some of them defiled themselves and were cast out of the race of the righteous, and became again as they had been before, or rather even worse.”

“How, sir,” I said, “did they become worse, having come to know God?” “The one who does not know God,” he said, “and does evil has some punishment for his wickedness; but the one who has come to know God ought no longer to do evil, but to do good.

If, then, the one who ought to do good does evil, does he not seem to do greater wickedness than the one who does not know God? This is why those who have not known God and do evil are condemned to death, but those who have known God and seen his mighty works and do evil will be doubly punished and will die forever. In this way, then, the church of God will be cleansed.

And as you saw the stones removed from the tower and handed over to the evil spirits and cast out from there (and there will be one body of those who are cleansed, just as the tower became as if made of one stone after it was cleansed), so also will the church of God be, after it has been cleansed and the wicked and hypocrites and blasphemers and double-minded and those who do various kinds of wickedness have been cast out.

After these have been cast out, the church of God will be one body, one understanding, one mind, one faith, one love; and then the Son of God will rejoice and be glad in them, having received back his people pure.” “Great and glorious, sir,” I said, “are all these things.”

“Further, sir,” I said, “make clear to me the power and the conduct of each of the mountains, so that every soul that trusts in the Lord, when it hears, may glorify his great and marvelous and glorious name.” “Hear,” he said, “the variety of the mountains and of the twelve nations.

Those who believed from the first mountain, the black one, are such as these: apostates and blasphemers against the Lord and betrayers of God's servants. For these there is no repentance, but there is death, and this is why they are black; for their kind is lawless.

Those who believed from the second mountain, the bare one, are such as these: hypocrites and teachers of wickedness. And these, then, are like the former, having no fruit of righteousness; for as their mountain is fruitless, so such people have a name, but are empty of faith, and there is no fruit of truth in them. For these, then, repentance is laid down, if they repent quickly; but if they delay, their death will be with the former.”

“Why, sir,” I said, “is there repentance for these, but not for the first? For their deeds are almost the same.” “This is why,” he said, “repentance is laid down for these: because they did not blaspheme their Lord nor become betrayers of God's servants; but through desire for gain they played the hypocrite, and each taught according to the desires of sinful people. But they will pay some penalty; yet repentance is laid down for them because they did not become blasphemers or betrayers.

Those who believed from the third mountain, which has thorns and thistles, are such as these: some of them are rich, and others mixed up in many business affairs. The thistles are the rich, and the thorns are those mixed up in various business affairs.

These, then, who are mixed up in many and various business affairs, do not cling to God's servants, but go astray, choked by their activities; and the rich cling to God's servants with difficulty, fearing that they will be asked for something by them. Such people, then, will enter the kingdom of God with difficulty.

For just as it is hard to walk among thistles with bare feet, so also it is hard for such people to enter the kingdom of God.

But for all these there is repentance, but it must be quick, so that what they did not do in former times they may now make up in these days, and do some good. If, then, they repent and do some good, they will live to God; but if they remain in their deeds, they will be handed over to those women, who will put them to death.

Those who believed from the fourth mountain, which has much vegetation, the upper parts of the plants green but the parts near the roots dry, and some being dried up by the sun, are such as these: some are double-minded, and others have the Lord on their lips but do not have him in their heart.

This is why their foundations are dry and without power, and only their words live, but their works are dead. Such people are neither alive nor dead. They are like the double-minded; for the double-minded too are neither green nor dry; for they are neither alive nor dead.

For just as these plants withered when they saw the sun, so also the double-minded, when they hear of tribulation, commit idolatry because of their cowardice and are ashamed of the name of their Lord.

Such people, then, are neither alive nor dead. But these too, if they repent quickly, will be able to live; but if they do not repent, they have already been handed over to the women who take away their life.

Those who believed from the fifth mountain, which has green plants and is rugged, are such as these: believers, but slow to learn and self-willed and pleasing themselves, wishing to know everything, and they know nothing at all.

Because of this self-will of theirs, understanding has departed from them, and foolish folly has entered into them. And they praise themselves as having understanding, and wish to be self-appointed teachers, though they are fools.

Through this haughtiness, then, many have been emptied, exalting themselves; for self-will and vain confidence are a great demon. Of these, then, many were rejected, but some repented and believed and submitted themselves to those who have understanding, recognizing their own folly.

And for the rest of such people repentance is laid down; for they did not become wicked, but rather foolish and without understanding. These, then, if they repent, will live to God; but if they do not repent, they will dwell with the women who do evil to them.

Those who believed from the sixth mountain, which has great and small cracks, and withered plants in the cracks, are such as these.

Those who have the small cracks are those who hold things against one another, and from their slanders they are withered in the faith; but many of them have repented. And the rest will repent when they hear my commandments; for their slanders are small, and they will repent quickly.

But those who have great cracks persist in their slanders and become grudge-bearers, raging against one another; these, then, were thrown away from the tower and rejected from its building. Such people, then, will live with difficulty.

If God and our Lord, who rules over all and has authority over all his creation, bears no grudge against those who confess their sins, but is merciful, does a man, who is mortal and full of sins, bear a grudge against a man, as though he could destroy or save him?

I, the angel of repentance, say to you: all of you who have this attitude, put it away and repent, and the Lord will heal your former sins, if you cleanse yourselves from this demon; but if not, you will be handed over to it for death.

Those who believed from the seventh mountain, on which the plants are green and cheerful, and the whole mountain flourishing, and every kind of cattle and the birds of heaven fed on the plants on this mountain, and the plants they fed on became more flourishing, are such as these.

They have always been simple and innocent and blessed, holding nothing against one another, but always rejoicing in God's servants and clothed with the holy spirit of these virgins, and always having compassion on every person, and from their labors they supplied every person without reproach and without hesitation.

The Lord, then, seeing their simplicity and complete childlikeness, multiplied them in the labors of their hands and gave them favor in all they did.

And I, the angel of repentance, say to you who are such: remain such, and your seed will not be blotted out forever; for the Lord has tested you and enrolled you in our number, and all your seed will dwell with the Son of God; for you have received of his Spirit.

Those who believed from the eighth mountain, where the many springs were and all the creation of the Lord drank from the springs, are such as these:

apostles and teachers who preached to the whole world and who taught the word of the Lord reverently and purely, and did not misappropriate anything at all for evil desire, but always walked in righteousness and truth, as they had received the Holy Spirit. The passage of such people, then, is with the angels.

Those who believed from the ninth mountain, the desert one, which has in it the reptiles and wild beasts that destroy people, are such as these:

those who have the spots are deacons who served badly and plundered the livelihood of widows and orphans and made gain for themselves from the ministry they had received to perform. If, then, they persist in the same desire, they are dead, and there is no hope of life for them; but if they turn back and complete their ministry purely, they will be able to live.

And those who are rough are those who have denied and have not turned back to their Lord, but have become barren and desolate; not clinging to God's servants, but living alone, they destroy their own souls.

For just as a vine left in some hedge and neglected is ruined and made desolate by weeds and in time becomes wild, and is no longer useful to its owner, so also such people have given themselves up and become useless to their Lord, having grown wild.

For these, then, there is repentance, if they are not found to have denied from the heart; but if anyone is found to have denied from the heart, I do not know whether he can live.

And I do not say this about these days, that anyone who denies may receive repentance; for it is impossible for one who is now going to deny his Lord to be saved; but for those who denied long ago repentance seems to be laid down. If, then, anyone is going to repent, let him be quick, before the tower is completed; otherwise he will be destroyed by the women to death.

And those cut short are deceitful and slanderers; and they are the wild beasts that you saw on the mountain. For just as the beasts destroy a person with their poison and kill him, so also the words of such people destroy a person and kill him.

These, then, are cut short from their faith because of the conduct they have in them; but some repented and were saved. And the rest who are such can be saved if they repent; but if they do not repent, they will die at the hands of those women whose power they have.

Those who believed from the tenth mountain, where there were trees sheltering some sheep, are such as these:

bishops and hospitable people, who always gladly received God's servants into their homes without hypocrisy; and the bishops always sheltered the needy and the widows by their ministry without ceasing, and always lived in purity.

All these, then, will be sheltered by the Lord forever. Those who have done these things are glorious before God, and their place is already with the angels, if they continue serving the Lord to the end.

Those who believed from the eleventh mountain, where there were trees full of fruit, adorned with various fruits, are such as these:

those who suffered for the name of the Son of God, who also suffered eagerly with their whole heart and gave up their lives.

“Why, then, sir,” I said, “do all the trees have fruit, but some of their fruits are more beautiful?” “Hear,” he said: “all who ever suffered for the name are glorious before God, and the sins of all have been taken away, because they suffered for the name of the Son of God. But hear why their fruits are various, and some surpassing.

All,” he said, “who were brought before the authorities and examined and did not deny, but suffered eagerly, these are more glorious before the Lord; their fruit is the surpassing one. But all who were cowardly and hesitated, and reasoned in their hearts whether they should deny or confess, and suffered, their fruits are less, because this plan entered their heart; for this plan is evil, that a servant should deny his own Lord.

Take care, then, you who are considering these things, lest this plan remain in your hearts and you die to God. But you who suffer for the name ought to glorify God, that God counted you worthy to bear this name and that all your sins might be healed.

So count yourselves blessed; but you think you have done a great work if any of you suffers for God's sake. The Lord is granting you life, and you do not understand; for your sins weighed you down, and if you had not suffered for the name of the Lord, you would have died to God because of your sins.

I say these things to you who hesitate about denying or confessing: confess that you have a Lord, lest by denying you be handed over to prison.

If the Gentiles punish their slaves when one of them denies his master, what do you think the Lord will do to you, who has authority over all? Remove these plans from your hearts, so that you may live to God forever.

Those who believed from the twelfth mountain, the white one, are such as these: they are like little babies, into whose heart no evil enters, nor have they known what wickedness is, but they have always remained in childlikeness.

Such people, then, will dwell without doubt in the kingdom of God, because they did not defile God's commandments in anything, but remained in childlikeness all the days of their life in the same mind.

All of you, then, who remain,” he said, “and will be like babies, having no malice, will be more glorious than all those mentioned before; for all babies are glorious before God and first with him. Blessed, then, are you, whoever remove wickedness from yourselves and put on innocence; you will live to God first of all.”

After he had finished the parables of the mountains, I said to him, “Sir, now make clear to me about the stones taken from the plain and put into the building in place of the stones taken out of the tower, and about the round ones put into the building, and those that are still round.”

“Hear,” he said, “about all these too. The stones taken from the plain and put into the building of the tower in place of those rejected are the roots of the white mountain.

Since, then, those who believed from the white mountain were all found innocent, the lord of the tower ordered these from the roots of this mountain to be put into the building of the tower; for he knew that if these stones went into the building of the tower, they would remain bright and none of them would turn black.

But if he had added from the other mountains, he would have had to visit that tower again and cleanse it. But all these were found white, those who have believed and those who will believe; for they are of the same race. Blessed is this race, because it is innocent.

Hear now also about the round and bright stones. These too are all from the white mountain. Hear, then, why they were found round. Their riches darkened them a little from the truth and dimmed them, but they never departed from God, nor did any evil word come out of their mouth, but all fairness and the virtue of truth.

When, then, the Lord saw their mind, that they could favor the truth and also remain good, he ordered their wealth to be cut away, not taken away entirely, so that they could do some good with what was left to them, and they will live to God, because they are of a good race. So they were cut a little and placed in the building of this tower.

But the others, which still remained round and were not fitted into that building, because they have not yet received the seal, were put back in their place; for they were found very round.

This world and the vanities of their riches must be cut away from them, and then they will fit into the kingdom of God. For they must enter the kingdom of God; for the Lord has blessed this innocent race. From this race, then, no one will perish. For even if one of them, tempted by the most wicked devil, commits some fault, he will quickly run back to his Lord.

I judge you all happy, I the messenger of repentance, whoever of you are innocent as infants, because your portion is good and honored before God.

And I say to all of you who have received this seal: have simplicity, and do not remember offenses, nor remain in your malice or in the memory of the bitterness of offenses; become each one of one spirit, and heal these evil divisions and take them away from you, so that the lord of the flocks may rejoice over them.

And he will rejoice if all are found sound, and none of them has fallen away. But if any of them is found to have fallen away, woe to the shepherds.

And if the shepherds themselves are found to have fallen away, what will they say to the master of the flock? That they fell away because of the sheep? They will not be believed; for it is an unbelievable thing for a shepherd to suffer anything from sheep; rather they will be punished for their lie. And I too am a shepherd, and I must most strictly give an account of you.

Heal yourselves, then, while the tower is still being built.

The Lord dwells in men who love peace; for peace is dear to him indeed; but he is far from the quarrelsome and those ruined by malice. Give back to him, then, the spirit whole, as you received it.

For if you give a fuller a new garment whole, and wish to receive it back whole, but the fuller gives it back to you torn, will you accept it? Will you not at once flare up and pursue him with reproach, saying, ‘I gave you a garment whole; why have you torn it and made it useless? Because of the tear you have made in it, it cannot be used.’ Will you not say all these words to the fuller about the tear he has made in your garment?

If, then, you grieve so over your garment and complain that you do not receive it back whole, what do you think the Lord will do to you, who gave you the spirit whole, and you have made it wholly useless, so that it can be of no use to its Lord? For its use has become useless, since it has been corrupted by you. Will not, then, the Lord of that spirit punish you with death for this deed of yours?”

“Certainly,” I said, “he will punish all whom he finds persisting in remembering offenses.” “Do not trample on his mercy,” he said, “but rather honor him, because he is so patient with your sins and is not like you. Do, then, the repentance that is useful to you.”

All these things written above I, the shepherd, the messenger of repentance, have shown and spoken to God's servants. If, then, you believe and hear my words and walk in them and correct your ways, you will be able to live. But if you remain in malice and in remembering offenses, none of such people will live to God. All these things that I had to say have been said to you.

The shepherd himself said to me, “Have you asked me everything?” And I said, “Yes, sir.” “Why, then, did you not ask me about the marks of the stones put in the building, where we filled in the marks?” And I said, “I forgot, sir.”

“Hear now,” he said, “about them. These are those who have now heard my commandments and repented with their whole heart. And when the Lord saw that their repentance was good and pure and that they could remain in it, he ordered their former sins to be blotted out. For these marks were their sins, and they were smoothed over, so that they would not appear.”

After I had written this book, the messenger who had handed me over to this shepherd came into the house where I was and sat on the bed, and this shepherd stood at his right hand. Then he called me and said this to me:

“I handed you and your household over to this shepherd,” he said, “so that you might be protected by him.” “Yes, sir,” I said. “If, then, you wish to be protected,” he said, “from all trouble and all cruelty, and to have success in every good work and word and every virtue of fairness, walk in his commandments, which I have given you, and you will be able to master all wickedness.

For if you keep his commandments, every desire and sweetness of this world will be subject to you, and success will follow you in every good undertaking. Take on yourself his gravity and modesty, and tell all that he is in great honor and dignity with the Lord and is a ruler of great power and mighty in his office. To him alone in the whole world has authority over repentance been given. Does he seem to you powerful? But you despise his gravity and the modesty he shows toward you.”

I said to him, “Ask him himself, sir, whether since he has been in my house I have done anything out of order, by which I have offended him.”

“I too know,” he said, “that you have done nothing out of order and will not do so. And that is why I speak these things with you, so that you may persevere. For he has thought well of you before me. But you shall tell these words to others, so that those who have repented or will repent may think as you do, and he may speak well of them to me, and I to the Lord.”

“And I, sir,” I said, “declare to every person the mighty works of the Lord; and I hope that all who have sinned before, if they hear these things, will gladly repent and recover life.”

“Continue, then,” he said, “in this ministry and complete it. Whoever carries out his commandments will have life, and will have great honor with the Lord. But whoever does not keep his commandments flees from his own life and opposes him; they do not follow his commandments, but hand themselves over to death, and each of them becomes guilty of his own blood. But I tell you to serve these commandments, and you will have healing for your sins.

And I have sent you these virgins to live with you; for I saw that they were friendly to you. You have them, then, as helpers, so that you may be better able to keep his commandments; for it is not possible for these commandments to be kept without these virgins. And I see that they are glad to be with you; but I will command them not to leave your house at all.

Only keep your house clean; for they will gladly live in a clean house; for they are clean and chaste and industrious and all have favor with the Lord. So if they find your house pure, they will remain with you. But if even a little defilement occurs, they will at once leave your house; for these virgins love no defilement at all.”

I said to him, “I hope, sir, that I shall please them, so that they may always live gladly in my house. And just as this one, to whom you handed me over, does not find fault with me, neither will they find fault with me.”

He said to the shepherd, “I know that the servant of God wishes to live and will keep these commandments and will settle the virgins in purity.”

Having said this to the shepherd, he again handed me over, and calling the virgins, … he said to them, “Since I see that you are glad to live in this man's house, I commend him and his house to you, so that you may not leave his house at all.” And they heard these words gladly.

Then he said to me, “Behave manfully in this ministry; declare to every person the mighty works of the Lord, and you will have favor in this ministry. Whoever, then, walks in these commandments will live and be happy in his life; but whoever neglects them will not live and will be unhappy in his life.

Tell all who are able to do right not to stop; it is useful for them to practice good works. And I say that every person ought to be rescued from hardships. For the one who is in need and suffers hardships in daily life is in great torment and distress.

Whoever, then, rescues such a soul from distress gains great joy for himself. For the one who is troubled by such hardship is tortured with the same torment as one who is in chains. For many, because of such calamities, when they cannot bear them, bring death on themselves. Whoever, then, knows the calamity of such a person and does not rescue him commits a great sin and becomes guilty of his blood.

Do good works, then, all of you who have received from the Lord, lest while you delay to do them the building of the tower be completed. For it is for your sake that the work of its building has been interrupted. Unless, then, you hasten to do right, the tower will be completed, and you will be shut out.”

After he had spoken with me, he rose from the bed, and taking the shepherd and the virgins he went away, saying to me that he would send that shepherd and the virgins back to my house.