The Shepherd of Hermas

But now I say to you, if you do not keep them, but neglect them, you shall not have salvation, nor your children, nor your house, because you have already judged for yourself that these commandments cannot be kept by man.

And he spoke these things to me very angrily, so that I was confounded, and greatly afraid of him, for his appearance was changed so that a man could not endure his wrath.

But when he saw me quite disturbed and confused he began to speak to me more gently and cheerfully, and said: Foolish one without understanding and double-minded, do you not understand the glory of God, how great and

If, then, said he, man is the lord of all the creatures of God, and masters them, is it not possible to master these commandments also? The man, said he, who has the Lord in his heart, is able to master all things and all these commandments.

But those who have the Lord on their lips, but their heart is hardened, and they are far from the Lord, for them these commandments are hard, and difficult to walk in.