The Shepherd of Hermas

Now therefore, Sir, explain to me about[*](The mountains) the mountains. Why is their appearance different from one another and various?Listen, said he, these twelve mountains are the tribes which inhabit the whole world. The Son of God, then, was preached to them by the Apostles.

But tell me. Sir, said I, why the appearance of the mountains differs one from another and is various. Listen, said he, these twelve tribes which inhabit the whole world are twelve nations, but they are various in understanding and mind. Just as, then, you saw that the mountains are various, so also are there varieties in the mind and understanding of the nations. And I will explain to you the action of each one.

First of all, Sir, said I, explain this to me, why though these mountains were so various, when the stones from them were put into the building they became bright with a single colour, like the stones which had come up from the deep.

Because, said he, all the nations which dwell under heaven, when they heard and believed were called after the name of the Son of God. So then when they received the seal they

But after they entered in together and became one body, some of them defiled themselves and were cast out from the family of the righteous, and became again what they had been before, or rather even worse.