The Shepherd of Hermas

I said to him: Sir, tell me this also. What more, said he, do you ask? Whether, Sir, said I, those who live in luxury and are deceived are punished for the same time as they live in luxury and deceit? And he said to me: Yes, they are punished the same time.

Sir, said I, they are punished a very short time, for those who live in

He said to me: You are foolish, and do not understand the power of punishment. No, said I, Sir, for if I had understood it, I should not have asked you to tell me. Listen, said he, to the power of both.

The time of luxury and deceit is one hour, but the hour of punishment has the power of thirty days. If, therefore, any man live in luxury and deceit for one day, and be punished one day, the day of punishment has the power of a whole year, for a man is punished as many years as he has lived days in luxury. You see, therefore, said he, that the time of luxury and deceit is very short, but the time of punishment is long.

Sir, said I, I still do not at all understand about the time of deceit and luxury and torture; explain it to me more clearly.

He answered and said to me: Your foolishness is lasting, and you do not wish to purify your heart and to serve God. See to it, said he, lest the time be fulfilled, and you be found still foolish. Listen, then, said he, that you may understand it as you wish.

He who lives in luxury and deceit for a single day, and does what he likes, is clothed with great foolishness, and does not understand the deed which he is doing. For he forgets to-morrow what he did yesterday. For luxury and deceit have no memory, because of the foolishness which they have put on. But when punishment and torture cleave to a man for a single

Therefore, being tortured and punished for a whole year, he then remembers his luxury and deceit, and knows that he is suffering evil because of them. Therefore, all men who live in luxury and deceit are thus tortured, because though they have life, they have given themselves over to death.

What sort of luxuries, Sir, said I, are harmful? Every act which a man does with pleasure, said he, is luxury, for even the ill-tempered man, by giving satisfaction to his own temper, lives luxuriously. And the adulterer and drunkard and evil-speaker and liar, and the covetous and the robber, and he who does such things as these gives satisfaction to his own disease; therefore he lives in luxury from his own acts.

All these luxuries are harmful to the servants of God. Those, therefore, who are punished and tortured suffer, because of these deceits.

But there are also luxuries which bring men salvation, for many who do good luxuriate and are carried away with their own pleasure. This luxury therefore is profitable to the servants of God, and brings life to such a man. But the harmful luxuries spoken of already bring them torture and punishment. But if they continue in them and do not repent, they procure death for themselves.

After a few days I saw him in the same plain, where I had also seen the shepherds, and he said to

Listen, said he, your sins are many, but not so great as that you should be handed over to this angel; but your family has done great iniquity and sin, and the glorious angel has become enraged at their deeds, and for this reason he commanded you to be afflicted for some time, that they also may repent and purify themselves from every lust of this world. When, therefore, they repent, and have been purified, then the angel of punishment will depart from you.

I said to him: Sir, even if they have done such things that the glorious angel is enraged, what have I done? They cannot, said he, be punished in any other way, than if you, the head of the house, be afflicted. For when you are afflicted, they also will necessarily be afflicted, but while you prosper, they cannot suffer any affliction.

But see, Sir, said I, they have repented with all their heart. I know, said he, myself also, that they have repented with all their heart; do you then think that the sins of those who repent are immediately forgiven? By no means; but he who repents must torture his own soul, and be humble in all his deeds and be afflicted with many divers afflictions. And if

and this in every case when he sees that the heart of the penitent is clean from every evil deed. But it is good for you and for your house, to suffer affliction now. But why do I say much to you? you must be afflicted, even as that angel of the Lord, who handed you over to me, ordained. And give the Lord thanks for this, because he deemed you worthy to show you the affliction beforehand, that in your foreknowledge you may endure it with strength.

I said to him: Sir, do you be with me, and I shall be able to endure every affliction. Yes, said he, I will be with you, and I will also ask the angel of punishment to afflict you more lightly. But you shall be afflicted a little time and you shall be restored again to your house. Only continue humble and serving the Lord with a pure heart, both your children and your household, and walk in my commandments which I give you, and your repentance shall be able to be strong and pure.

And if you keep these commandments with your family all affliction shall depart from you. Yes, said he, and affliction shall depart from all who walk in these my commandments.