The Shepherd of Hermas

Hermas

Hermas. The Apostolic Fathers with an English translation by Kirsopp Lake. In Two Volumes. Vol. II. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd. 1913

For, just as in the summer the fruit of each individual tree is made plain, and they are recognised for what they are, so also the fruit of the righteous will be plain, and they will all be known, by blossoming in that world.

But the heathen and the sinners—the withered

trees which you saw—will be found to be such, dried and fruitless in that world, and they shall be burnt up like wood and shall be made manifest, because their conduct was wicked in their lives. For the sinners shall be burnt, because they sinned and did not repent, and the heathen shall be burnt, because they did not know their Creator.

Be therefore fruitful, that your fruit may be known in that summer. But abstain from much business, and you will do no sin. For those who do much business also sin much, being engrossed in their business, and serving their Lord in nothing.

How then, said he, can such a one pray for anything from the Lord and receive it, when he does not serve the Lord? They who serve him,—they shall receive their requests. But they who do not serve the Lord,—they shall receive nothing.

But if anyone be occupied with but one business, he can serve the Lord also. For his understanding is not corrupted away from the Lord, but he will serve him with a pure mind.

If, therefore, you do this, you can bear fruit for the world to come. And whoever does this shall bear fruit.

While I was fasting, and sitting on a certain[*](Fasting) mountain, and thanking the Lord for all that he had

done with me, I saw the shepherd sitting by me, and saying: Why have you come here so early? Because, sir, said I, I have a station.[*](Station is not found elsewhere in Greek writers but is used in Latin writers in the sense of a fixed time for fasting (e.g. cf. Tertullian de orat. 19. de jejun. 1, 10, etc.). It is apparently one of the many terms taken from military language statio de militari exemplo nomen accepit, nam et militia dei sumus says Tertullian.)

What, said he, is a station. I am fasting, sir, said I. But, said he, what is this fast, which you are fasting? I am fasting, sir, said I, as I have been accustomed.

You do not know, said he, how to fast to the Lord, and this useless fast which you are fasting to him is not a fast? Why, sir, said I, do you say this? I tell you, said he, that this fast which you think to fast is nothing, but I will teach you what is a fast, acceptable and complete to the Lord. Listen, he said:

God does not wish such a vain fast. For if you thus fast to God you do nothing for righteousness. But fast to God in this way:

do nothing evil in your life, but serve the Lord with a pure heart; keep his commandments, and walk in his ordinances, and let no evil desire arise in your heart, but believe in God, that if you do these things and fear him, and refrain from every wicked act, you shall live to God; and if you do this you will fulfil a great fast and one acceptable to God.