The Shepherd of Hermas

Hermas

Hermas. The Apostolic Fathers with an English translation by Kirsopp Lake. In Two Volumes. Vol. II. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd. 1913

And from the eleventh mountain, where were[*](The eleventh mountain) trees full of fruit, each adorned with different fruit, are such believers as these:

they who have suffered for the name of the Son of God, who also suffered readily with all their heart and gave up their lives.

Why then, Sir, said I, have all the trees fruit, but the fruit of some of them is more beautiful? Listen, said he, as many as ever suffered for the name are glorious before God, and the sins of all these have been taken away because they suffered for the name of the Son of God. But listen why their fruits are different and some better than others.