The Shepherd of Hermas

I recognised from the former visions that it was the Church, and I rejoiced the more. She greeted me saying, Hail, O man, and I greeted her in return, Hail, Lady.

She answered me and said, Did nothing meet you? I said to her, Yes, Lady, such a beast as could destroy nations, but by the power of the Lord, and by his great

You did well to escape it, she said, because you cast your care upon God, and opened your heart to the Lord, believing that salvation can be found through nothing save through the great and glorious name. Therefore the Lord sent his angel, whose name is Thegri,[*](No other mention of this Angel is found in Jewish or Christian literature, and no suitable meaning has been suggested for Thegri. Dr. Rendel Harris suggests Segri as an emendation, connecting it with the Hebrew word meaning to shut (sagar), found in Dan. 6, 22.) who is over the beast, and shut his mouth that he should not hurt you. You have escaped great tribulation through your faith, and because you were not double-minded when you saw so great a beast.

Go then[*](The explanation of the Leviathan) and tell the Lord’s elect ones of his great deeds, and tell them that this beast is a type of the great persecution which is to come. If then you are prepared beforehand, and repent with all your hearts towards the Lord, you will be able to escape it, if your heart be made pure and blameless, and you serve the Lord blamelessly for the rest of the days of your life. Cast your cares upon the Lord, and he will put them straight.

Believe on the Lord, you who are double-minded, that he can do all things, and turns his wrath away from you, and sends scourges on you who are double-minded. Woe to those who hear these words and disobey; it were better for them not to have been born.

I asked her concerning the four colours which[*](The four colours on the Leviathan) the beast had on its head. She answered and said to me, Are you again curious about such matters? Yes, I said, Lady, let me know what they are.

Listen, she said, the black is this world, in which you are living;