The Shepherd of Hermas

You, therefore, who work righteousness, must remain steadfast and be not double-minded, that your passing may be with the holy angels.[*](Cf. Herm. Sim. ix, 25 and Martyr. Polycarp, ii 3 with the note on the latter passage as to the doctrine of a transformation of the just into angels after their death.) Blessed are you, as many as endure the great persecution which is coming, and as many as shall not deny their life.

For the Lord has sworn by his Son that those who have denied their Christ have been rejected from their life, that is, those who shall now deny him in the days to come.

But, Hermas, no longer bear a grudge against your children, nor neglect your sister, that they may be cleansed from their former sins. For they will be corrected with righteous correction, if you bear no grudge against them. The bearing of grudges works death. But you, Hermas, had great troubles of your own because of the transgressions of your family, because you did not pay attention to them. But you neglected them and became entangled in their evil deeds.

But you are saved by not having broken away from the living God, and by your simplicity and great temperance. These things have saved you, if you remain in them, and they save all whose deeds are such, and who walk in innocence and simplicity. These shall overcome all wickedness and remain steadfast to eternal life.

Blessed, are all they who do righteousness ; they shall not perish for ever.

But you shall say to Maximus: Behold, persecution is coming, if it seems good to you deny the faith again, The Lord is near those that turn to him, as it is written in the Book of Eldad and Modat,[*](This book is mentioned among the Apocrypha of the N.T. in the Athanasian Synopsis and in the Stichometry of Nicephorus, but is not extant. It is thought to be quoted in II Clem. xi. 2. Eldad and Modat are mentioned in Numbers xi. 26.) who prophesied to the people in the wilderness.

And a revelation was made to me, brethren.[*](The revelation as to the ancient lady) while I slept, by a very beautiful young man who said to me, Who do you think that the ancient lady was from whom you received the little book? I said, The Sibyl. You are wrong, he said, she is not. Who is she, then? I said. The Church, he said. I said to him, Why then is she old? Because, he said, she was created the first of all things. For this reason is she old; and for her sake was the world established.

And afterwards I saw a vision in my house. The ancient[*](The ancient lady returns) lady came and asked me if I had already given the book to the elders. I said that I had not given it. You have done well, she said, for I have words to add. When, therefore, I have finished all the words they shall be made known by you to all the elect.

You shall therefore write two little books and send one to Clement and one to Grapte. Clement then shall send it to the cities abroad, for that is his duty; and Grapte shall exhort the widows and orphans; but in this city you shall read it yourself with the elders who are in charge of the church.