The Shepherd of Hermas

What then are you going to do, seeing that you have a law in your own city? Will you because of your fields and other possessions altogether deny your law, and walk in the law of

Take heed, then, make no further preparations for yourself beyond a sufficient competence for yourself, as though you were living in a foreign country, and be ready in order that, whenever the master of this city wishes to expel you for resisting his law, you may go out from his city, and depart to your own city, and joyfully follow your own law suffering no harm.[*](ἀνυβρίστως is either active or passive: it may qualify ἀγαλλιώμενος, in decorous joy , joy unmixed with ὕβρις.)

Take heed, then, you who serve the Lord and have him in your heart. Do the deeds of God, remembering his commandments, and the promises which he made, and believe him that he will perform them if his commandments be observed.

Therefore instead of lands, purchase afflicted souls, as each is able, and look after widows and orphans, and do not despise them, and spend your wealth and all your establishments for such fields and houses as you have received from God.

For, for this reason did the Master make you rich, that you should fulfil these ministries for him. It is far better to purchase such lands and houses, as you will find in your own city, when you go to it.

This wealth is beautiful and joyful, and has neither grief nor fear, but has joy. Follow therefore not after the wealth of the heathen, for it

Follow your own wealth, in which you can rejoice, and do not counterfeit nor touch that which is another’s, nor desire it, for it is wicked to desire that which is another’s, but do your own work and you shall be saved.

While I was walking in the country I noticed[*](Rich and poor like a vine and elm) an elm and a vine, and was considering them and their fruits, when the shepherd appeared to me and said: What are you considering in yourself about the elm and vine? I am considering, sir, said I, that they are very well suited to one another.

These two trees, said he are putas a type for the servants of God. I should like, said I, to know the type of the trees of which you speak. You see, said he, the vine and the elm. Yes, sir, said I, I see them.

This vine, said he, bears fruit, but the elm is a sterile tree. But this vine, if it do not grow upon the elm, cannot bear much fruit, because it is spread on the ground, and the fruit which it bears, it bears rotten, when it is not hanging on the elm. When, therefore, the vine is attached to the elm, it bears fruit from itself and from the elm.

You see then that the elm gives much fruit, not less than the vine, but rather more.How, sir, said I, does it bear more? Because,