The Shepherd of Hermas

And I saw other stones being cast far from the tower, and coming on to the road, and not staying on the road, but rolling from the road into the rough ground. And others were falling into the fire, and were being burnt, and others were falling near the water, and could not be rolled into the water, although men wished them to be rolled on and to come into the water.

When she had showed me these things she[*](The explanation of the vision) wished to hasten away. I said to her: Lady, what does it benefit me to have seen these things, if I do not know what they mean? She answered me and said: You are a persistent man, wanting to know about the tower. Yes, I said, Lady, in order that I may report to my brethren, and that they may be made more joyful, and when they hear these

And she said: Many indeed shall hear, but some of them shall rejoice when they hear, and some shall mourn. But these also, if they hear and repent, even they shall rejoice. Hear then, the parables of the tower, for I will reveal everything to you. And no longer trouble me about revelation, for these revelations are finished, for they have been fulfilled. Yet you will not cease asking for revelations, for you are shameless.

The tower which you see being built is myself, the Church, who have appeared to you both now and formerly. Ask, therefore, what you will about the tower, and I[*](The tower) will reveal it to you, that you may rejoice with the saints.

I said to her: Lady, since you have once thought me worthy to reveal everything to me, proceed with the revelation. And she said to me: What is permitted to be revealed to you shall be revealed; only let your heart be turned towards God and do not be double-minded as to what you see.

I asked her: Why has the tower been built on the water. Lady? As I told you before, you are seeking diligently, said she, and so by seeking you are finding out the truth. Hear, then, why the tower has been built upon the water: because your life was saved and shall be saved through water, and the tower has been founded by the utterance of the almighty and glorious Name, and is maintained bv the unseen power of the Master.

I answered and said to her: Lady, great and[*](The six young men) wonderful is this thing. But, Lady, who are the six