The Shepherd of Hermas

And the stunted ones, these are deceitful and evil-speaking men, and the wild beasts which you saw on the mountains are these. For just as the wild beasts destroy man by their poison [*](Apparently θηρίον, as often in later Greek, means snake. ) and kill him, so also the words of such men destroy man and kill him.

These then are stunted in their faith through their conduct which they have in themselves, but some repented and were saved. And the rest who are such can be saved if they repent; but if they repent not they will be put to death by those women whose quality[*](Lit. power. ) they have.

And from the tenth mountain, where were trees[*](The tenth mountain) sheltering some sheep, are such believers as these:

Bishops and hospitable men who at all times received the servants of God into their houses gladly and without hypocrisy; and the bishops ever ceaselessly sheltered the destitute and the widows by their ministration, and ever behaved with holiness.