The Shepherd of Hermas

Therefore purify yourself from this wicked grief, and you shall live to God, and all shall live to God who cast away from themselves grief, and put on all joyfulness.

He showed me men sitting on a bench,[*](συμφέλλιον cannot be here translated by the same word as in Vis. III. i. 4. Here it is the bench of the learner as opposed to the chair of the teacher.) and[*](False and true prophets) another man sitting on a chair, and he said to me: Do you see the men sitting on the bench? Yes, sir, said I; I see them. They, said he, are faithful, and he who is sitting on the chair is a false prophet, who is corrupting the understanding

Therefore these double-minded men come to him as to a wizard, and ask him concerning their future; and that false prophet, having no power of the Divine Spirit in himself, speaks with them according to their requests, and according to the desires of their wickedness, and fills their souls, as they themselves wish.

For he is empty and makes empty answers to empty men; for whatever question is put he answers according to the emptiness of the man. But he also speaks some true words, for the devil fills him with his spirit, to see if he can break any of the righteous.

Therefore, as many as are strong in the faith of the Lord, and have put on the truth, do not cleave to such spirits, but refrain from them. But as many as are double-minded, and constantly repent, practise soothsaying, like the heathen, and bring greater shame upon themselves by their idolatry. For he who asks a false prophet concerning any act is an idolator, and empty of the truth and foolish.

For every spirit which is given from God is not asked questions, but has the power of the Godhead and speaks all things of itself, because it is from above, from the power of the Divine spirit.