The Shepherd of Hermas

I commanded you, said he, in the first[*](Expansion of the first Mandate) commandment to keep faith and fear and continence. Yes, sir, said I. But now I wish, said he, to explain also their qualities that you may understand what is the quality of each and its working, for their working is of two sorts. They relate, then, to the righteous and to the unrighteous:

do you therefore believe the righteous, but do not believe the unrighteous. For that which is righteous has a straight path, but that which is unrighteous a crooked path. But do you walk in the straight path, but leave the crooked path alone.

For the crooked path has no road, but rough ground and many stumbling-blocks, and is steep and thorny. It is therefore harmful to those who walk in it.

But those who go in the straight path walk smoothly and without stumbling, for it is neither rough nor thorny. You see, then, that it is better to walk in this path.

It pleases me, sir, said I, to walk in this path.You shall do so, said he, and whoever turns to the Lord with all his heart, shall walk in it.