Shepherd of Hermas: Visions

The man who brought me up sold me to a certain Rhoda in Rome. After many years I met her again and began to love her as a sister.

After some time I saw her bathing in the river Tiber, and I gave her my hand and helped her out of the river. When I saw her beauty I reasoned in my heart, saying, “How happy I would be if I had a wife like this, both in beauty and in character.” This was all I thought, and nothing else at all.

After some time, as I was going to Cumae and glorifying God's creatures, how great and splendid and mighty they are, I fell asleep as I walked. And a spirit took me and carried me away through a pathless place, through which no one could walk; the place was steep and broken up by the waters. When I had crossed that river I came to level ground, and I knelt and began to pray to the Lord and to confess my sins.

As I was praying, the heaven opened, and I saw that woman whom I had desired greeting me from heaven, saying, “Hermas, greetings.”

Looking at her, I said to her, “Lady, what are you doing here?” She answered me, “I was taken up to accuse you of your sins before the Lord.”

I said to her, “Are you now my accuser?” “No,” she said, “but listen to the words I am going to say to you. God, who dwells in the heavens and created out of what does not exist the things that exist, and increased and multiplied them for the sake of his holy church, is angry with you because you sinned against me.”

I answered her, “I sinned against you? In what place, or when, did I ever speak a shameful word to you? Did I not always regard you as a goddess? Did I not always respect you as a sister? Why do you falsely accuse me, lady, of these evil and impure things?”

She laughed and said to me, “The desire for wickedness rose up in your heart. Or do you not think it an evil thing for a righteous man if an evil desire rises up in his heart? It is indeed a sin,” she said, “and a great one. For the righteous man plans righteous things. By planning righteous things his glory is established in the heavens, and he finds the Lord easily reconciled in everything he does. But those who plan evil in their hearts bring death and captivity upon themselves, especially those who acquire this world for themselves and pride themselves in their wealth and do not hold fast to the good things to come.

Their souls will regret it, for they have no hope but have despaired of themselves and their life. But you, pray to God, and he will heal your sins and those of your whole household and of all the saints.”

After she had spoken these words the heavens were shut; and I was all shuddering and grieving. And I said to myself, “If this sin is recorded against me, how can I be saved? Or how shall I appease God for my sins that are complete? Or with what words shall I ask the Lord to be merciful to me?”

While I was pondering and weighing these things in my heart, I saw in front of me a great white chair made of snow-white wool; and an elderly woman came in a very bright garment, with a book in her hands, and sat down alone and greeted me: “Hermas, greetings.” And I, grieving and weeping, said, “Lady, greetings.”

And she said to me, “Why so gloomy, Hermas? You who are patient and even-tempered, who are always laughing, why is your face so downcast and not cheerful?” And I said to her, “Because of a most excellent woman, who says that I sinned against her.”

And she said, “Far be this thing from the servant of God! But certainly it rose up in your heart about her. For God's servants such a thought brings sin; for it is an evil and shocking thought for a most reverent spirit, already tested, to desire an evil deed, and especially for Hermas the self-controlled, who abstains from every evil desire and is full of all simplicity and great innocence.

But it is not for this that God is angry with you, but so that you may turn your household, which has sinned against the Lord and against you, their parents. But being fond of your children you did not admonish your household, but let it become thoroughly corrupt. For this reason the Lord is angry with you; but he will heal all the past evils in your household. For because of their sins and transgressions you have been corrupted by the affairs of this life.

But the great mercy of the Lord has had pity on you and your household, and will strengthen you and establish you in his glory. Only do not be careless, but take courage and strengthen your household. For as the smith hammering his work masters the thing he wants, so also the daily righteous word masters all wickedness. Do not stop admonishing your children. For I know that if they repent with all their heart, they will be enrolled in the books of life with the saints.”

When she had finished these words she said to me, “Do you want to hear me read?” And I said, “I do, lady.” She said to me, “Listen, then, and hear the glories of God.” I heard great and marvelous things, which I could not remember; for all the words were terrifying, such as a man cannot bear. But I remembered the last words, for they were helpful to us and gentle:

“Behold, the God of powers, whom I love, who by his mighty power and great understanding created the world, and by his glorious counsel clothed his creation with beauty, and by his strong word fixed the heaven and founded the earth upon the waters, and by his own wisdom and providence created his holy church, which he also blessed: behold, he is removing the heavens and the mountains and the hills and the seas, and all things are becoming level for his elect, so that he may give them the promise that he promised with much glory and joy, if they keep the ordinances of God that they received in great faith.”

When she had finished reading and rose from the chair, four young men came and took up the chair and went away toward the east.

And she called me to her and touched my breast and said to me, “Did my reading please you?” And I said to her, “Lady, these last things please me, but the first were hard and harsh.” And she said to me, “These last things are for the righteous, but the first for the Gentiles and the apostates.”

While she was speaking with me, two men appeared and took her by the arms and went away toward the east, where the chair had gone. She went away cheerfully, and as she went she said to me, “Be a man, Hermas.”

As I was going to Cumae at the same time as the year before, I remembered last year's vision as I walked; and again a spirit took me and carried me away to the same place as the year before.

When I came to the place, I knelt and began to pray to the Lord and to glorify his name, because he had counted me worthy and had made known to me my former sins.

After I rose from prayer I saw in front of me the elderly woman whom I had seen the year before, walking and reading a little book. And she said to me, “Can you announce these things to God's elect?” I said to her, “Lady, I cannot remember so much; but give me the little book, so that I may copy it.” “Take it,” she said, “and give it back to me.”

I took it, and withdrawing to a certain place in the field I copied it all letter by letter, for I could not make out the syllables. When I had finished the letters of the little book, suddenly the little book was snatched out of my hand; but by whom I did not see.

After fifteen days, when I had fasted and prayed much to the Lord, the knowledge of the writing was revealed to me. And this is what was written:

“Your offspring, Hermas, have rejected God and blasphemed the Lord and betrayed their parents in great wickedness, and they have been called betrayers of parents, and in betraying they did not profit, but they have added to their sins acts of licentiousness and heaps of wickedness, and so their lawless deeds have been filled up.

But make known these words to all your children, and to your wife, who is to be as your sister; for she too does not restrain her tongue, with which she does evil. But when she hears these words she will restrain it and will find mercy.

After you have made these words known to them, which the Master commanded me to reveal to you, then all the sins they have committed before will be forgiven them, and to all the saints who have sinned up to this day, if they repent with their whole heart and remove double-mindedness from their hearts.

For the Master has sworn by his glory concerning his elect: if, now that this day has been set, there is still sin, they shall not have salvation; for repentance for the righteous has an end; the days of repentance are fulfilled for all the saints; but for the Gentiles there is repentance until the last day.

You shall say, then, to the leaders of the church that they should set their ways straight in righteousness, so that they may receive the promises in full with much glory.

Stand fast, then, you who work righteousness, and do not be double-minded, so that your passage may be with the holy angels. Blessed are you, all who endure the great tribulation that is coming, and all who will not deny their life.

For the Lord has sworn by his Son that those who have denied their Christ have been rejected from their life, that is, those who are now going to deny him in the days to come; but to those who denied him before, he has become merciful because of his great compassion.

But you, Hermas, no longer bear a grudge against your children, nor neglect your sister, so that they may be cleansed from their former sins. For they will be disciplined with righteous discipline, if you do not bear a grudge against them. Bearing a grudge works death. But you, Hermas, have had great troubles of your own because of the transgressions of your household, because you did not care about them; but you were negligent and got entangled in your evil business dealings.

But what saves you is that you did not depart from the living God, and your simplicity and great self-control; these have saved you, if you remain in them, and they save all who do such things and walk in innocence and simplicity. These will prevail over all wickedness and will continue to eternal life.

Blessed are all who work righteousness. They will not be destroyed forever.

And you shall say to Maximus: Behold, tribulation is coming; if it seems good to you, deny again. The Lord is near to those who turn to him, as it is written in Eldad and Modat, who prophesied to the people in the wilderness.”

And it was revealed to me, brothers, while I slept, by a very handsome young man who said to me, “The elderly woman from whom you received the little book: who do you think she is?” I said, “The Sibyl.” “You are wrong,” he said, “she is not.” “Who is she, then?” I said. “The church,” he said. I said to him, “Why, then, is she elderly?” “Because,” he said, “she was created first of all; that is why she is elderly; and for her sake the world was formed.”

Afterward I saw a vision in my house. The elderly woman came and asked me whether I had already given the book to the presbyters. I said I had not given it. “You have done well,” she said, “for I have words to add. When I have finished all the words, they will be made known through you to all the elect.

So you shall write two little books, and send one to Clement and one to Grapte. Clement will send it to the cities abroad, for that is his task; and Grapte will admonish the widows and the orphans. But you shall read it in this city with the presbyters who preside over the church.”

What I saw, brothers, was this.

After fasting often and asking the Lord to show me the revelation that he had promised to show me through that elderly woman, that very night the elderly woman appeared to me and said, “Since you are so needy and eager to know everything, come into the field where you farm, and at about the fifth hour I will appear to you and show you what you must see.”

I asked her, saying, “Lady, in what part of the field?” “Wherever you wish,” she said. I chose a beautiful, secluded spot. But before I could speak to her and name the place, she said to me, “I will come there, where you wish.”

So, brothers, I went to the field and counted the hours, and came to the place where I had arranged for her to come; and I saw an ivory couch set there, and on the couch lay a linen cushion, and over it a covering of fine linen spread out.

When I saw these things lying there and no one in the place, I was amazed, and a kind of trembling seized me and my hair stood on end; and a kind of shuddering came over me, since I was alone. But when I came to myself and remembered the glory of God and took courage, I knelt and again confessed my sins to the Lord as before.

And she came with six young men, whom I had seen before, and stood beside me and listened to me as I prayed and confessed my sins to the Lord. And she touched me and said, “Hermas, stop asking only about your sins; ask also about righteousness, so that you may take some part of it to your household.”

And she raised me by the hand and led me to the couch and said to the young men, “Go and build.”

And after the young men had gone away and we were alone, she said to me, “Sit here.” I said to her, “Lady, let the presbyters sit first.” “Do what I tell you,” she said; “sit.”

When I wished to sit on the right side, she did not let me, but motioned to me with her hand to sit on the left side. As I was pondering this and grieving because she did not let me sit on the right, she said to me, “Are you grieved, Hermas? The place on the right belongs to others, to those who have already pleased God and suffered for the sake of the name. But you lack much before you can sit with them. But as you remain in your simplicity, remain so, and you will sit with them, and so will all who do their works and endure what they endured.”

“What,” I said, “did they endure?” “Listen,” she said: “scourges, prisons, great tribulations, crosses, wild beasts, for the sake of the name. For this reason the right side of holiness belongs to them, and to anyone who suffers for the name; the left side belongs to the rest. But both, those sitting on the right and on the left, have the same gifts and the same promises; only they sit on the right and have a certain glory.”

But you long to sit on the right with them, but your shortcomings are many. But you will be cleansed from your shortcomings; and all who are not double-minded will be cleansed from all their sins up to this day.

When she had said this she wished to go away; but I fell at her feet and begged her by the Lord to show me the vision she had promised.

And again she took me by the hand and raised me up and seated me on the couch on the left; and she herself sat on the right. And raising a shining rod, she said to me, “Do you see a great thing?” I said to her, “Lady, I see nothing.” She said to me, “Look: do you not see in front of you a great tower being built upon the waters with shining square stones?”

The tower was being built foursquare by the six young men who had come with her; and countless thousands of other men were bringing stones, some from the deep and some from the land, and handing them to the six young men; and they took them and built.

All the stones dragged from the deep they placed as they were into the building; for they were shaped and fitted in their joining with the others; and they fitted together so closely that their joints could not be seen. And the building of the tower looked as if it were built of a single stone.

But of the other stones brought from the dry land, some they threw away, some they put into the building, and others they broke up and threw far from the tower.

And many other stones lay around the tower, and they did not use them for the building; for some of them were rough, others had cracks, others were cut short, and others were white and round, not fitting into the building.

And I saw other stones thrown far from the tower, coming to the road and not staying on the road, but rolling from the road into the pathless ground; others falling into fire and burning; others falling near waters and unable to roll into the water, though they wished to roll and come to the water.

When she had shown me these things she wished to hurry away. I said to her, “Lady, what use is it to me to have seen these things and not to know what they mean?” She answered me, “You are a cunning man, wanting to know about the tower.” “Yes, lady,” I said, “so that I may announce it to the brothers and they may become more cheerful, and when they hear these things may know the Lord in great glory.”

And she said, “Many will hear; and when they hear, some of them will rejoice, and some will weep; but even these, if they hear and repent, will themselves rejoice. Listen, then, to the parables of the tower; for I will reveal everything to you. And do not trouble me any longer about revelation; for these revelations have an end, for they are completed. But you will not stop asking for revelations, for you are shameless.”

The tower that you see being built is I, the church, who appeared to you both now and before. Ask, then, whatever you wish about the tower, and I will reveal it to you, so that you may rejoice with the saints.

I said to her, “Lady, since you have once counted me worthy to reveal everything to me, reveal it.” And she said to me, “Whatever can be revealed to you will be revealed. Only let your heart be toward God, and do not be double-minded about whatever you see.”

I asked her, “Why is the tower built upon waters, lady?” “I told you before,” she said, “and you seek carefully; so by seeking you find the truth. Hear, then, why the tower is built upon waters: because your life was saved through water, and will be saved. And the tower has been founded by the word of the almighty and glorious name, and it is held together by the invisible power of the Master.”

I answered her, “Lady, this thing is great and marvelous. But the six young men who are building, who are they, lady?” “These are the holy angels of God who were created first, to whom the Lord handed over all his creation to increase and build up and rule over all creation. Through them, then, the building of the tower will be completed.”

“And the others who are bringing the stones, who are they?” “They too are holy angels of God; but these six are superior to them. So the building of the tower will be completed, and all together will rejoice around the tower and glorify God that the building of the tower has been completed.”

I asked her, saying, “Lady, I would like to know the outcome of the stones and their meaning, what it is.” She answered me, “It is not that you are more worthy than all others that this should be revealed to you. For there are others before you and better than you, to whom these visions should have been revealed; but so that the name of God may be glorified, it has been revealed to you and will be revealed, because of the double-minded, who debate in their hearts whether these things are so or not. Tell them that all these things are true, and nothing is outside the truth, but everything is strong and sure and well founded.

Hear now about the stones that go into the building. The stones that are square and white and fit together in their joints are the apostles and bishops and teachers and deacons who have walked in the holiness of God, and have served as bishops and taught and served as deacons purely and reverently for God's elect: some have fallen asleep, and some are still living. And they always agreed with one another, and had peace among themselves, and listened to one another; for this reason their joints fit together in the building of the tower.

“And those that are dragged from the deep and placed into the building and fit in their joints with the other stones already built in, who are they?” “These are those who suffered for the name of the Lord.”

“And the other stones brought from the dry land, I wish to know who they are, lady.” She said, “Those that go into the building without being cut, these the Lord has approved, because they walked in the uprightness of the Lord and carried out his commandments.”

“And those that are brought and placed in the building, who are they?” “They are young in the faith, and faithful. But they are admonished by the angels to do good, because some wickedness was found in them.”

“And those they rejected and threw away, who are they?” “These are those who have sinned and wish to repent; for this reason they were not thrown far from the tower, because they will be useful for the building if they repent. Those, then, who are going to repent, if they repent, will be strong in the faith, if they repent now, while the tower is being built. But if the building is finished, they no longer have a place, but will be castaways; they have only this, to lie beside the tower.”

“Do you wish to know about those that are broken up and thrown far from the tower? These are the sons of lawlessness; they believed in hypocrisy, and no wickedness departed from them. For this reason they have no salvation, because they are not useful for building because of their wickedness. Therefore they were broken up and thrown far away because of the anger of the Lord, because they provoked him to anger.

And the others, which you have seen lying in great numbers and not going into the building: those that are rough are those who have known the truth but did not remain in it.

“And those that have cracks, who are they?” “These are those who hold things against one another in their hearts and are not at peace among themselves, but have an appearance of peace; and when they leave one another, their wickedness remains in their hearts. These are the cracks that the stones have.

And those that are cut short are those who have believed and have most of their part in righteousness, but have some parts of lawlessness; for this reason they are cut short and not complete.

“And the white and round ones that do not fit into the building, who are they, lady?” She answered me, “How long will you be foolish and without understanding, asking about everything and understanding nothing? These are those who have faith, but also have the wealth of this world; when tribulation comes, because of their wealth and their business affairs they deny their Lord.”

And I answered her, “Lady, when, then, will they be useful for the building?” “When,” she said, “the wealth that leads their souls astray is cut away from them, then they will be useful to God. For just as the round stone cannot become square unless it is cut and loses something of itself, so also those who are rich in this world cannot become useful to the Lord unless their wealth is cut away from them.

Learn first from yourself: when you were rich, you were useless, but now you are useful and profitable for life. Become useful to God; for you yourself also are made from the same stones.

And the other stones, which you saw thrown far from the tower and falling onto the road and rolling from the road into the pathless places: these are those who have believed, but because of their double-mindedness they abandon their true way; thinking, then, that they can find a better way, they go astray and are miserable, walking in pathless places.

And those falling into the fire and burning are those who have finally departed from the living God, and it no longer enters their heart to repent because of the desires of their licentiousness and the wicked deeds they have done.

Do you wish to know who the others are, those falling near the waters and unable to roll into the water? These are those who have heard the word and wish to be baptized in the name of the Lord; then, when the purity of the truth comes to their mind, they change their minds and go back again after their evil desires.

So she finished the explanation of the tower.

Being still shameless, I asked her whether all these stones that had been rejected and did not fit into the building of the tower have repentance and a place in this tower. “They have repentance,” she said, “but they cannot fit into this tower.

But they will fit into another, much lesser place, and that only when they have been tormented and have fulfilled the days of their sins. And they will be moved for this reason, that they shared in the righteous word. And then it will happen that they are moved out of their torments, because of the evil deeds they have done. But if it does not enter their heart, they are not saved, because of their hardness of heart.”

When, then, I stopped asking her about all these things, she said to me, “Do you wish to see something else?” Being very eager to see, I was delighted to see it.

Looking at me, she smiled and said to me, “Do you see seven women around the tower?” “I see them, lady,” I said. “This tower is supported by them at the command of the Lord.

Hear now their functions. The first of them, the one clasping her hands, is called Faith; through her God's elect are saved.

And the next, who is girded and acts like a man, is called Self-control; she is the daughter of Faith. Whoever follows her becomes blessed in his life, because he will abstain from all evil deeds, believing that if he abstains from every evil desire he will inherit eternal life.”

“And the others, lady, who are they?” “They are daughters of one another; they are called Simplicity, Knowledge, Innocence, Reverence, and Love. When, then, you do all the works of their mother, you can live.”

“I would like to know, lady,” I said, “which of them has what power.” “Hear,” she said, “the powers they have.

Their powers are held together by one another, and they follow one another in the order in which they were born. From Faith is born Self-control, from Self-control Simplicity, from Simplicity Innocence, from Innocence Reverence, from Reverence Knowledge, from Knowledge Love. Their works, then, are pure and reverent and divine.

Whoever, then, serves them and is able to hold fast to their works will have his dwelling in the tower with the saints of God.”

And I asked her about the times, whether it is already the end. But she cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Foolish man, do you not see the tower still being built? When the tower has been finished, then comes the end. But it will be built quickly. Ask me nothing more; this reminder and the renewal of your spirits are enough for you and for the saints.

But these things were not revealed for you alone, but so that you may make them known to all,

after three days, for you must first understand them. And I command you first, Hermas, to speak all these words that I am about to say to you into the ears of the saints, so that when they hear them and do them they may be cleansed from their wickedness, and you with them.

Listen to me, children: I brought you up in much simplicity and innocence and reverence through the mercy of the Lord, who has dropped righteousness upon you, so that you may be justified and sanctified from all wickedness and from all crookedness. But you do not wish to stop your wickedness.

Now, then, listen to me, and be at peace among yourselves, and look after one another and help one another; and do not partake of God's creatures in excess by yourselves alone, but share them also with those in need.

For some bring illness upon their flesh from too much food and injure their flesh; while the flesh of those who have no food is injured because they do not have enough nourishment, and their body is ruined.

This lack of sharing, then, is harmful to you who have and do not share with those in need.

Look at the judgment that is coming. You who have abundance, then, seek out the hungry while the tower is not yet finished; for after the tower is finished you will wish to do good and will have no opportunity.

Look out, then, you who pride yourselves in your wealth, lest those in need groan, and their groaning go up to the Lord, and you with your goods be shut outside the door of the tower.

Now, then, I say to you who lead the church and to those who occupy the chief seats: do not be like the sorcerers. For the sorcerers carry their drugs in boxes, but you carry your drug and your poison in your heart.

You are hardened and do not wish to cleanse your hearts and to blend your thinking together in a pure heart, so that you may obtain mercy from the great King.

Look out, then, children, lest these divisions deprive you of your life.

How do you wish to discipline the Lord's elect, when you yourselves have no discipline? Discipline one another, then, and be at peace among yourselves, so that I too may stand cheerfully before the Father and give an account for all of you to the Lord.”

When, then, she had stopped speaking with me, the six young men who were building came and carried her away to the tower, and four others took up the couch and carried it also to the tower. I did not see their faces, because they were turned away.

As she was going I asked her to reveal to me about the three forms in which she had appeared to me. She answered me, “About these you must ask someone else, so that it may be revealed to you.”

She appeared to me, brothers, in the first vision last year as very old and seated on a chair.

In the second vision her face was younger, but her flesh and her hair were old, and she spoke to me standing; and she was more cheerful than before.

In the third vision she was entirely younger and exceedingly beautiful, and only her hair was old; and she was altogether cheerful and was seated on a couch.

I was very distressed about these things, wishing to know this revelation; and I saw the elderly woman in a vision of the night, saying to me, “Every request needs humility. Fast, then, and you will receive what you ask from the Lord.”

So I fasted one day, and that very night a young man appeared to me and said, “Why do you keep asking for revelations in prayer? See that by asking many things you do not harm your flesh.

These revelations are enough for you. Can you see more powerful revelations than those you have seen?”

I answered him, “Sir, I ask only this, about the three forms of the elderly woman, so that the revelation may be complete.” He answered me, “How long will you be without understanding? It is your double-mindedness that makes you without understanding, and not having your heart toward the Lord.”

I answered him again, “But from you, sir, we shall learn them more exactly.”

“Hear,” he said, “about the forms you are asking about.

In the first vision, why did she appear to you old and seated on a chair? Because your spirit was old and already withered and without power because of your weaknesses and double-mindedness.

For just as old people, no longer having hope of renewal, expect nothing but their falling asleep, so also you, weakened by the affairs of this life, gave yourselves over to apathy and did not cast your cares upon the Lord; but your mind was broken and you grew old in your sorrows.

“Why, then, did she sit on a chair? I would like to know, sir.” “Because every sick person sits on a chair because of his weakness, so that the weakness of his body may be supported. You have the meaning of the first vision.

In the second vision you saw her standing, with a younger and more cheerful face than before, but her flesh and hair old. Hear,” he said, “this parable also.

When an old man, already despairing of himself because of his weakness and poverty, expects nothing but the last day of his life, and then suddenly an inheritance is left to him: when he hears it he rises up and, overjoyed, puts on strength; and he no longer lies down, but stands, and his spirit, already worn out by his former circumstances, is renewed, and he no longer sits but acts like a man. So also you, when you heard the revelation that the Lord revealed to you,

because he had compassion on you, your spirits were renewed and you laid aside your weaknesses, and strength came to you and you were strengthened in faith; and the Lord, seeing your strengthening, rejoiced. For this reason he showed you the building of the tower, and he will show you other things, if you are at peace among yourselves with your whole heart.

In the third vision you saw her younger and beautiful and cheerful, and her form beautiful.

For just as when good news comes to someone who is grieving, he immediately forgets his former griefs and expects nothing but the news he has heard, and from then on is strengthened for good, and his spirit is renewed because of the joy he has received: so also you have received a renewal of your spirits by seeing these good things.

And as for your seeing her seated on a couch, the position is firm, because the couch has four feet and stands firmly; for the world too is held together by four elements.

Those, then, who have repented completely will be young and well founded, those who have repented with their whole heart. You have the complete revelation. Ask nothing more about revelation; but if anything is needed, it will be revealed to you.”

What I saw, brothers, twenty days after the previous vision, as a type of the coming tribulation:

I was going into the country by the Campanian Way. It is about ten stades from the public road, and the place is easily reached.

So, walking alone, I asked the Lord to complete the revelations and visions that he had shown me through his holy church, so that he might strengthen me and give repentance to his servants who had stumbled, so that his great and glorious name might be glorified, because he counted me worthy to show me his wonders.

And as I was glorifying and thanking him, something like the sound of a voice answered me: “Do not be double-minded, Hermas.” I began to reason within myself and to say, “Why should I be double-minded, so firmly founded by the Lord and having seen glorious things?”

And I went on a little, brothers, and behold, I saw a cloud of dust reaching as it were to heaven, and I began to say to myself, “Are cattle coming and raising dust?” It was about a stade from me.

As the cloud of dust grew greater and greater, I suspected that it was something divine. The sun shone out a little, and behold, I saw a huge beast like a sea monster, and fiery locusts were coming out of its mouth. The beast was about a hundred feet long, and its head was like a clay jar.

And I began to weep and to ask the Lord to rescue me from it; and I remembered the word I had heard: “Do not be double-minded, Hermas.”

So, brothers, putting on the faith of the Lord and remembering the great things he had taught me, I took courage and gave myself up to the beast. And the beast was coming on with such a rushing noise that it could have destroyed a city.

I came near it, and the huge sea monster stretched itself out on the ground and put out nothing but its tongue, and did not move at all until I had passed by it.

And the beast had four colors on its head: black, then fiery and blood-red, then gold, then white.

After I had passed the beast and gone on about thirty feet, behold, a virgin met me, adorned as if coming out of the bridal chamber, all in white and with white sandals, veiled down to her forehead, and her veil was a headband; and her hair was white.

I knew from the previous visions that she was the church, and I became more cheerful. She greeted me, saying, “Greetings, O man.” And I greeted her in return: “Lady, greetings.”

She answered me, “Did nothing meet you?” I said to her, “Lady, such a beast, able to destroy peoples; but by the power of the Lord and his great mercy I escaped it.”

“You escaped it well,” she said, “because you cast your care upon God and opened your heart to the Lord, believing that you can be saved through nothing except the great and glorious name. For this reason the Lord sent his angel who is over the beasts, whose name is Thegri, and shut its mouth so that it would not harm you. You have escaped a great tribulation because of your faith, and because you did not doubt when you saw such a beast.

Go, then, and tell the Lord's elect his great deeds, and tell them that this beast is a type of the great tribulation that is coming. If, then, you prepare yourselves beforehand and repent to the Lord with all your heart, you will be able to escape it, if your heart becomes pure and blameless, and you serve the Lord blamelessly for the rest of the days of your life. Cast your cares upon the Lord, and he will set them right.

Believe in the Lord, you double-minded, that he can do all things, and turns his anger away from you, and sends out scourges on you who are double-minded. Woe to those who have heard these words and disobeyed; it would have been better for them not to have been born.”

I asked her about the four colors that the beast had on its head. And she answered me, “Again you are curious about such things.” “Yes, lady,” I said; “make known to me what these things are.”

“Hear,” she said. “The black is this world in which you live.

The fiery and blood-red means that this world must perish through blood and fire.

The golden part is you who have escaped this world. For just as gold is tested by fire and becomes useful, so also you who dwell in it are being tested. Those, then, who remain and are refined by them will be cleansed. Just as gold casts off its dross, so also you will cast off all grief and distress, and you will be cleansed and will be useful for the building of the tower.

The white part is the age to come, in which God's elect will dwell; for those chosen by God for eternal life will be spotless and pure.

So do not stop speaking into the ears of the saints. You have also the type of the great tribulation that is coming. But if you are willing, it will be nothing. Remember what was written before.”

Having said these things she went away, and I did not see where she went; for a cloud appeared; and I turned back in fear, thinking that the beast was coming.

While I was praying at home and sitting on my bed, a man of glorious appearance came in, dressed like a shepherd, wrapped in a white goatskin, with a bag on his shoulders and a staff in his hand. And he greeted me, and I greeted him in return.

And immediately he sat down beside me and said to me, “I have been sent by the most reverend angel to live with you for the rest of the days of your life.”

I thought that he had come to tempt me, and I said to him, “Who are you? For I know,” I said, “to whom I have been handed over.” He said to me, “Do you not recognize me?” “No,” I said. “I am,” he said, “the shepherd to whom you have been handed over.”

While he was still speaking his appearance changed, and I recognized him, that it was he to whom I had been handed over; and immediately I was confused, and fear seized me, and I was completely overcome with grief that I had answered him so wickedly and foolishly.

But he answered me, “Do not be confused, but be strong in my commandments that I am about to command you. For I have been sent,” he said, “to show you again all the things you saw before, the very main points that are useful to you. First of all, write down my commandments and parables; and the rest you shall write as I show you. For this reason,” he said, “I command you to write first the commandments and parables, so that you may read them over constantly and be able to keep them.”

So I wrote down the commandments and parables, as he commanded me.

If, then, when you have heard them, you keep them and walk in them and do them with a pure heart, you will receive from the Lord all that he has promised you; but if, having heard them, you do not repent, but still add to your sins, you will receive the opposite from the Lord. All these things the shepherd, the angel of repentance, commanded me to write thus.