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 he said to me: Remove from yourself[*](Against double-mindedness) double-mindedness, and be not at all double-minded about asking anything from God, saying in yourself. How can I ask anything from the Lord and receive it after having sinned so greatly against him?

Do not have these thoughts but turn to the Lord with all your heart, and ask from him without doubting, and you shall know his great mercifulness, that he will not desert you, but will fulfil the petition of your soul.

For God is not as men who

bear malice, but is himself without malice, and has mercy on that which he made.

Therefore purify your heart from all the vanities of this world, and from the words which were spoken to you beforehand, and ask from the Lord, and you shall receive all things, and shall not fail to obtain any of your petitions, if you ask from the Lord without doubting.

But if you doubt in your heart, you shall receive none of your petitions. For those who have doubts towards God, these are the double-minded, and they shall not in any wise obtain any of their petitions.

But they who are perfect, in faith ask for all things, trusting in the Lord, and they receive them, because they ask without doubting, and are double-minded in nothing. For every double-minded man, unless he repent, shall with difficulty be saved.