The Shepherd of Hermas

When she had said this she went away, and I did not see to what place she departed, for there was a cloud, and I turned backwards in fear, thinking that the beast was coming.

While I was praying at home and sitting on[*](The coming of the shepherd) my bed, there entered a man glorious to look on, in the dress of a shepherd, covered with a white goatskin, with a bag on his shoulders and a staff in his hand. And he greeted me, and I greeted him back.

And at once he sat down by me, and said to me, I have been sent by the most reverend angel to dwell with you the rest of the days of your life.

I thought he was come tempting me, and said to him, Yes, but who are you? for, I said, I know to whom I was handed over. He said to me, Do you not recognise me? No, I said. I, said he, am the shepherd to whom you were handed over.[*](There is no mention of this in the preceding Visions.)

While he was still speaking, his appearance changed, and I recognised him, that it was he to whom I was handed over; and at once I was confounded, and fear seized me, and I was quite overcome with sorrow that I had answered him so basely and foolishly.

But he answered me and said, Be not confounded, but be strong in my commandments which I am going to command you. For I was sent, said he, to show you again all the things which you saw before, for they are the main points which are helpful to you. First of all write my commandments and the parables; but the rest you shall write as I shall show you. This is the reason, said he, that I command you to write first the commandments and parables, that you may read

So I wrote the commandments and parables as he commanded me.

If then you hear and keep them, and walk in them, and do them with a pure heart, you shall receive from the Lord all that he promised you, but if you hear them and do not repent, but continue to add to your sins, you shall receive the contrary from the Lord. All these things the shepherd commanded me to write thus, for he was the angel of repentance.

First of all believe that God is one, who made[*](Belief in God) all things and perfected them, and made all things to be out of that which was not, and contains all things, and is himself alone uncontained.

Believe then in him, and fear him, and in your fear be continent. Keep these things, and you shall cast away from yourself all wickedness, and shall put on every virtue of righteousness, and shall live to God, if you keep this commandment.

He said to me: Have simplicity and be[*](Simplicity) innocent and you shall be as the children who do not know the wickedness that destroys the life of men.