The Shepherd of Hermas

Hear, now, said he, foolish man, how grief[*](Grief and the Holy Spirit) wears out the Holy Spirit, and again brings salvation.

When the double-minded undertakes any work, and fails in it because of his double-mindedness, this grief enters into the man, and grieves the Holy Spirit and wears it out.

Then again, when for any matter ill temper cleave to a man, and he become exceedingly bitter, again grief enters into the heart of the ill tempered man, and he is grieved at the act which he did, and repents because he did wickedly.

Therefore this grief seems to bring salvation, because he repented of having done wickedly. Therefore both deeds grieve the Spirit; double-mindedness, because he did not obtain his purpose, and ill temper grieves the Spirit, because he acted wickedly. Both, therefore, are grievous to the Holy Spirit, double-mindedness and ill temper.

Put therefore away from yourself grief, and do not oppress the Holy Spirit which dwells in you, lest it beseech God,[*](Apparently the meaning is beseech God to allow it to depart from the man in whom it is. This is brought out in the variants of A and Ath.) and it depart from you.

For the Spirit of God which is given to this flesh endures neither grief nor oppression.