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
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
me: What more are you seeking? I have come[*](The reason for the continued punishment of the penitent) here. Sir, said I, in order that you may command the shepherd of punishment to depart from my house, because he afflicts me too much. You must be: afflicted, said he, For thus, said he, the glorious angel enjoined concerning you. For he wishes you to be tried. Yes, Sir, said I, but what have I done so wicked, that I should be handed over to this angel?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
he endure the afflictions which come upon him he who created all things, and gave them power will have compassion in all ways upon him, and will give him some measure of healing;