The Shepherd of Hermas

Do you not think that these are wicked?Yes, very wicked, said I, for the servants of God. From all these he who is serving God must refrain. Refrain, therefore from all these, that you may live to God and be enrolled with those who refrain from them. These then are the things from which you must refrain.

But now hear the things from which you must not refrain but do them, said he. Do not refrain from that which is good, but do it.

And explain to me, sir, said I, the power of the things which are good, that I may walk in them and serve them, that by doing them I may be saved. Listen, then, said he, to the deeds of goodness, which you must do and not refrain from them.

First of all, faith, fear of God, love and harmony, words of righteousness, truth, patience; than these there is nothing better in the life of man. If any man keep these things and do not refrain from them, he becomes blessed in his life.

Next hear the things which follow: To minister to widows, to look after orphans and the destitute, to redeem from distress the servants of God, to be hospitable, for in hospitality may be found the practice of good, to resist none, to be gentle, to be poorer than all men, to reverence the aged, to practise justice, to preserve