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| Vision Third. Concerning the Building of the Triumphant Church, and the Various Classes of Reprobate Men.
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Vision Third.
Concerning the Building of the Triumphant Church,
and the Various Classes of Reprobate Men.
Chap. I.
The vision which I saw, my brethren, was of the
following nature. Having fasted frequently, and having prayed to
the Lord that He would show me the revelation which He promised
to show me through that old woman, the same night that old woman
appeared to me, and said to me, “Since you are so anxious and
eager to know all things, go into the part of the country where you
tarry; and about the fifth79
| 79
Fifth. Sixth.—Vat. [Here is a probable reference to
canonical hours, borrowed from apostolic usage (Acts iii. 1), but not
reflected in written constitutions in Clement’s day.] |
hour I shall appear unto you, and show you all that you ought to
see.” I asked her, saying “Lady, into what part of the country
am I to go?” And she said, “Into any part you wish.”
Then I chose a spot which was suitable, and retired. Before, however,
I began to speak and to mention the place, she said to me, “I will
come where you wish.” Accordingly, I went to the country, and
counted the hours, and reached the place where I had promised to meet
her. And I see an ivory seat ready placed, and on it a linen cushion,
and above the linen cushion was spread a covering of fine linen.80
| 80 [Compare Cyprian’s Life
and Martydom, by Pontius the deacon (sec. 16). This is doubtless a
picture of the bishop’s cathedra in the days of Pius, but,
for the times of the Pauline Hermas, a probable anachronism.] |
Seeing these laid out, and yet no one in the place, I began to feel
awe, and as it were a trembling seized hold of me, and my hair stood
on end, and as it were a horror came upon me when I saw that I was
all alone. But on coming back to myself and calling to mind the glory
of God, I took courage, bent my knees, and again confessed my sins
to God as I had done before.81
Whereupon the old woman approached, accompanied
by six young men whom I had also seen before; and she stood behind me,
and listened to me, as I prayed and confessed my sins to the Lord. And
touching me she said, “Hermas, cease praying continually for your
sins; pray for righteousness,82
that you may
have a portion of it immediately in your
house.” On this, she took me up by the hand, and brought me to
the seat, and said to the young men, “Go and build.” When
the young men had gone and we were alone, she said to me, “Sit
here.” I say to her, “Lady, permit my elders83
| 83 My elders. Perhaps the
translation should be: the presbyters. [No doubt; for here also is a
reference to canon law. See Apost. Constitutions (so called),
book ii. sec. vii. 57.] | to be seated first.” “Do
what I bid you,” said she; “sit down.” When I would
have sat down on her right, she did not permit me, but with her hand
beckoned to me to sit down on the left. While I was thinking about this,
and feeling vexed that she did not let me sit on the right, she said,
“Are you vexed, Hermas? The place to the right is for others who
have already pleased God, and have suffered for His name’s sake;
and you have yet much to accomplish before you can sit with them. But
abide as you now do in your simplicity, and you will sit with them,
and with all who do their deeds and bear what they have borne.”
Chap. II.
“What have they borne?” said
I. “Listen,” said she: “scourges, prisons,
great tribulations, crosses, wild beasts,84
for God’s name’s
sake. On this account is assigned to them the division of sanctification
on the right hand, and to every one who shall suffer for God’s name:
to the rest is assigned the division on the left. But both for those
who sit on the right, and those who sit on the left, there are the same
gifts and promises; only those sit on the right, and have some glory. You
then are eager to sit on the right with them, but your shortcomings are
many. But you will be cleansed from your shortcomings; and all who are
not given to doubts shall be cleansed from all their iniquities up till
this day.” Saying this, she wished to go away. But falling down
at her feet, I begged her by the Lord that she would show me the vision
which she had promised to show me. And then she again took hold of me
by the hand, and raised me, and made me sit on the seat to the left;
and lifting up a splendid rod,85
she said to me, “Do you see something
great?” And I say, “Lady, I see nothing.” She said to
me, “Lo! do you not see opposite to you a great tower, built upon
the waters, of splendid square stones?” For the tower was built
square86
by those six young men who had come with her. But myriads of men were
carrying stones to it, some dragging them from the depths, others
removing them from the land, and they handed them to these six young
men. They were taking them and building; and those of the stones that
were dragged out of the depths, they placed in the building just as they
were: for they were polished and fitted exactly into the other stones,
and became so united one with another that the lines of juncture could not
be perceived.87
And in this way the building of the tower
looked as if it were made out of one stone. Those stones, however, which
were taken from the earth suffered a different fate; for the young men
rejected some of them, some they fitted into the building, and some they
cut down, and cast far away from the tower. Many other stones, however,
lay around the tower, and the young men did not use them in building;
for some of them were rough, others had cracks in them, others had been
made too short,88
| 88 Others had
been made too short, not in Vat. | and others were white
and round, but did not fit into the building of the tower. Moreover,
I saw other stones thrown far away from the tower, and falling into the
public road; yet they did not remain on the road, but were rolled into a
pathless place. And I saw others falling into the fire and burning, others
falling close to the water, and yet not capable of being rolled into the
water, though they wished to be rolled down, and to enter the water.
Chap. III.
On showing me these visions, she wished to retire. I
said to her, “What is the use of my having seen all this,
while I do not know what it means?” She said to me, “You
are a cunning fellow, wishing to know everything that relates to the
tower.” “Even so, O Lady,” said I, “that I may
tell it to my brethren, that, hearing this, they may know the Lord in
much glory.”89
And she said, “Many indeed shall hear, and hearing, some
shall be glad, and some shall weep. But even these, if they hear and
repent, shall also rejoice. Hear, then, the parables of the tower;
for I will reveal all to you, and give me no more trouble in regard
to revelation: for these revelations have an end, for they have
been completed. But you will not cease praying for revelations,
for you are shameless.90
The tower
which you see building is myself, the Church, who have appeared to
you now and on the former occasion. Ask, then, whatever you like in
regard to the tower, and I will reveal it to you, that you may rejoice
with the saints.” I said unto her, “Lady, since you have
vouchsafed to reveal all to me this once, reveal it.” She said
to me, “Whatsoever ought to be revealed, will be revealed; only
let your heart be with God,91
and doubt not whatsoever
you shall see.”
I asked her, “Why was
the tower built upon the waters, O Lady?” She answered,
“I told you before,92
| 92 I
said to you before, that you were cunning, diligently inquiring
in regard to the Scriptures.—Vat. You are cunning
in regard to the Scriptures.—Lips. In some of the
mss. of the common
Latin version, “structures” is read instead of
“Scriptures.” | and you still inquire carefully:
therefore inquiring you shall find the truth. Hear then why the tower
is built upon the waters. It is because your life has been, and will be,
saved through water. For the tower was founder on the word of the almighty
and glorious Name and it is kept together by the invisible power of the
Lord.”93
Chap. IV.
In reply I said to her, “This is magnificent
and marvellous. But who are the six young men who are engaged in
building?” And she said, “These are the holy angels of God,
who were first created, and to whom the Lord handed over His whole
creation, that they might increase and build up and rule over the whole
creation. By these will the building of the tower be finished.”
“But who are the other persons who are engaged in carrying the
stones?” “These also are holy angels of the Lord, but the
former six are more excellent than these. The building of the tower
will be finished,94
and all will rejoice together
around the tower, and they will glorify God, because the tower is
finished.” I asked her, saying, “Lady, I should like to know
what became of the stones, and what was meant by the various kinds of
stones?” In reply she said to me, “Not because you are95
| 95 Not because you are better.
Are you better?—Vat. [See note 90 on 2 Cor. xii. 1-11, preceding
chapter.] | more deserving than all others that this revelation
should be made to you—for there are others before you, and better
than you, to whom these visions should have been revealed—but that
the name of God may be glorified, has the revelation been made to you,
and it will be made on account of the doubtful who ponder in their
hearts whether these things will be or not. Tell them that all these
things are true, and that none of them is beyond the truth. All of them
are firm and sure, and established on a strong foundation.”
Chap. V.
“Hear now with regard to the stones which are in
the building. Those square white stones which fitted exactly into each
other, are apostles, bishops, teachers, and deacons, who have lived in
godly purity, and have acted as bishops and teachers and deacons chastely
and reverently to the elect of God. Some of them have fallen asleep,
and some still remain alive.96
And they have always agreed with each
other, and been at peace among themselves,97
and
listened to each other. On account of this, they join exactly into the
building of the tower.” “But who are the stones that were
dragged from the depths, and which were laid into the building and fitted
in with the rest of the stones previously placed in the tower?”
“They are those98
| 98 Are
those. They are those who have alreay fallen asleep, and who
suffered.—Vat. | who suffered for the Lord’s
sake.” “But I wish to know, O Lady, who are the other stones
which were carried from the land.” “Those,” she said,
“which go into the building without being polished, are those whom
God has approved of, for they walked in the straight ways of the Lord and
practiced His commandments.” “But who are those who are in the
act of being brought and placed in the building?” “They are
those who are young in faith and are faithful. But they are admonished
by the angels to do good, for no iniquity has been found in them.”
“Who then are those whom they rejected and cast away?”99
| 99 Cast away. Placed near the
tower.—Vat. | “These are they who have
sinned, and wish to repent. On this account they have not been thrown
far from the tower, because they will yet be useful in the building,
if they repent. Those then who are to repent, if they do repent, will
be strong in faith, if they now repent while the tower is building. For
if the building be finished, there will not be more room for any one,
but he will be rejected.100
This privilege, however,
will belong only to him who has now been placed near the tower.”
Chap. VI.
“As to those who were cut down and thrown far away
from the tower, do you wish to know who they are? They are the sons of
iniquity, and they believed in hypocrisy, and wickedness did not depart
from them. For this reason they are not saved, since they cannot be used
in the building on account of their iniquities. Wherefore they have been
cut off and cast far away on account of the anger of the Lord, for they
have roused Him to anger. But I shall explain to you the other stones
which you saw lying in great numbers, and not going into the building.
Those which are rough are those who have known the truth and not remained
in it, nor have they been joined to the saints.101
| 101 [Heb. x. 25. Barnabas (cap. iv.) reproves the same fault,
almost as if directing his words against anchorites, vol. i. p. 139,
this series.] | On this account are they unfit for use.”
“Who are those that have rents?” “These are they who
are at discord in their hearts one with another, and are not at peace
amongst themselves: they indeed keep peace before each other, but when
they separate one from the other, their wicked thoughts remain in
their hearts. These, then, are
the rents which are in the stones. But those which are shortened
are those who have indeed believed, and have the larger share of
righteousness; yet they have also a considerable share of iniquity,
and therefore they are shortened and not whole.” “But
who are these, Lady, that are white and round, and yet do not
fit into the building of the tower?” She answered and said,
“How long will you be foolish and stupid, and continue to put
every kind of question and understand nothing? These are those who
have faith indeed, but they have also the riches of this world. When,
therefore, tribulation comes, on account of their riches and business
they deny the Lord.”102
I answered and said to her, “When,
then, will they be useful for the building, Lady?” “When the
riches that now seduce them have been circumscribed, then will they be
of use to God.103
For as
a round stone cannot become square unless portions be cut off and cast
away, so also those who are rich in this world cannot be useful to the
Lord unless their riches be cut down. Learn this first from your own
case. When you were rich, you were useless; but now you are useful
and fit for life. Be ye useful to God; for you also will be used as
one of these stones.”104
| 104
For … stones. For you yourself were also one of these
stones.—Vat. |
Chap. VII.
“Now the other stones which you saw cast far
away from the tower, and falling upon the public road and rolling
from it into pathless places, are those who have indeed believed,
but through doubt have abandoned the true road. Thinking, then,
that they could find a better, they wander and become wretched, and
enter upon pathless places. But those which fell into the fire and
were burned105
are those who have departed for ever from the living
God; nor does the thought of repentance ever come into their hearts,
on account of their devotion to their lusts and to the crimes which
they committed. Do you wish to know who are the others which fell
near the waters, but could not be rolled into them? These are they
who have heard the word, and wish to be baptized in the name of the
Lord; but when the chastity demanded by the truth comes into their
recollection, they draw back,106
| 106
The words “draw back” are represented in Greek by the word
elsewhere translated “repent;” μετανοεῖν
is thus used for a change of mind, either from evil to good, or good to
evil. | and again walk after their own wicked desires.”
She finished her exposition of the tower. But I, shameless as I yet was,
asked her, “Is repentance possible for all those stones which have
been cast away and did not fit into the building of the tower, and will
they yet have a place in this tower?” “Repentance,”
said she, “is yet possible, but in this tower they cannot find a
suitable place. But in another107
| 107
[Perhaps the earliest reference to the penitential discipline which
was developed after the Nicene Council, and to the separation of the
Flentes and others from the faithful, in public worship. But
compare Irenæus (vol. i. p. 335, this series), who refers to
this discipline; also Apost. Constitutions, book ii. cap. 39. I
prefer in this chapter Wake’s rendering; and see Bingham, book
xviii. cap. 1.] | and much inferior place they will be laid,
and that, too, only when they have been tortured and completed the days
of their sins. And on this account will they be transferred, because
they have partaken of the righteous Word.108
| 108 [Greek, ῥῆμα not λόγος. To
translate this as if it referred to the Word (St. John i. i) is a
great mistake. (Heb. xi. 3). Compare Wake’s rendering. It seems a
reference to the audientes, seperated from the faithful,
but admitted to hear the Word. See Bingham, and Apost. Constit.,
as above.] | And then only will they be removed from their
punishments when the thought of repenting of the evil deeds which they
have done has come into their hearts. But if it does not come into
their hearts, they will not be saved, on account of the hardness of
their heart.”
Chap. VIII.
When then I ceased asking in regard to all these
matters, she said to me, “Do you wish to see anything else?”
And as I was extremely eager to see something more, my countenance
beamed with joy. She looked towards me with a smile, and said, “Do
you see seven women around the tower?” “I do, Lady,”
said I. “This tower,” said she, “is supported by them
according to the precept of the Lord. Listen now to their functions.
The first of them, who is clasping her hands, is called Faith. Through her
the elect of God are saved.109
Another, who has her garments tucked up110
| 110 [Girded rather, the loins
compressed.] | and acts with vigour, is called Self-restraint.
She is the daughter of Faith. Whoever then follows her will become happy
in his life, because he will restrain himself from all evil works,
believing that, if he restrain himself from all evil desire, he will
inherit eternal life.” “But the others,” said I,
“O Lady, who are they?” And she said to me, “They
are daughters of each other. One of them is called Simplicity, another
Guilelessness, another Chastity, another Intelligence, another Love. When
then you do all the works of their mother,111
| 111 [Their mother is Faith (ut supra), and works
of faith are here represented as deriving their value from faith
only.] | you will be able to live.” “I should
like to know,” said I, “O Lady, what power each one of
them possesses.” “Hear,” she said, “what
power they have. Their powers are regulated112
| 112 Regulated. They have equal powers, but their
powers are connected with each other.—Vat. |
by each other, and follow each other in the
order of their birth. For from Faith
arises Self-restraint; from Self-restraint, Simplicity; from Simplicity,
Guilelessness; from Guilelessness, Chastity; from Chastity, Intelligence;
and from Intelligence, Love. The deeds, then, of these are pure, and
chaste, and divine. Whoever devotes himself to these, and is able to hold
fast by their works, shall have his dwelling in the tower with the saints
of God.” Then I asked her in regard to the ages, if now there is
the conclusion. She cried out with a loud voice, “Foolish man! do
you not see the tower yet building? When the tower is finished and built,
then comes the end; and I assure you it will be soon finished. Ask me
no more questions. Let you and all the saints be content with what I
have called to your remembrance, and with my renewal of your spirits.
But observe that it is not for your own sake only that these revelations
have been made to you, but they have been given you that you may show
them to all. For113
| 113 [Appearently
for fasting, and to wait for the appearance of the interpreter, in
cap. x.] | after three days—this you will take care to
remember—I Command you to speak all the words which I am to say to
you into the ears of the saints, that hearing them and doing them, they
may be cleansed from their iniquities, and you along with them.”
Chap. IX.
Give ear unto me, O Sons: I have brought you up in
much simplicity, and guilelessness, and chastity, on account of the mercy
of the Lord,114
who has dropped His
righteousness down upon you, that ye may be made righteous and holy115
| 115 Or, that ye may be justified and
sanctified. | from all your iniquity and depravity; but you
do not wish to rest from your iniquity. Now, therefore, listen to me,
and be at peace one with another, and visit each other, and bear each
other’s burdens, and do not partake of God’s creatures
alone,116
| 116 I have translated the
Vat. Reading here. The Greek seems to mean, “Do not partake of
God’s creatures alone by way of mere relish.” The Pal. Has,
“Do not partake of God’s creatures alone joylessly, in a
way calculated to defeat enjoyment of them.” | but give
abundantly of them to the needy. For some through the abundance of their
food produce weakness in their flesh, and thus corrupt their flesh; while
the flesh of others who have no food is corrupted, because they have
not sufficient nourishment. And on this account their bodies waste away.
This intemperance in eating is thus injurious to you who have abundance
and do not distribute among those who are needy. Give heed to the judgment
that is to come. Ye, therefore, who are high in position, seek out the
hungry as long as the tower is not yet finished; for after the tower is
finished, you will wish to do good, but will find no opportunity. Give
heed, therefore, ye who glory in your wealth, lest those who are
needy should groan, and their groans should ascend to the Lord,117
and ye be shut out with all your goods beyond the gate of the
tower. Wherefore I now say to you who preside over the Church and
love the first seats,118
| 118
Those that love the first seats, omitted in Æth. [Greek,
τοῖς
προηγουμένοις
τῆς
ἐκκλησίας
καὶ τοῖς
πρωτοκαθεδρίταις.
Hermas seems, purposely, colourless as to technical distinctions in the
clergy; giving a more primitive cast to his fiction, by this feature.
Matt. xxiii. 6; Mark xii. 39; Luke xi. 43, xx. 46.] | “Be
not like to drug-mixers. For the drug-mixers carry their drugs in boxes,
but ye carry your drug and poison in your heart. Ye are hardened, and
do not wish to cleanse your hearts, and to add unity of aim to purity
of heart, that you may have mercy from the great King. Take heed,
therefore, children, that these dissensions of yours do not deprive
you of your life. How will you instruct the elect of the Lord, if you
yourselves have not instruction? Instruct each other therefore, and be at
peace among yourselves, that119
I also, standing joyful before
your Father, may give an account of you all to your Lord.”120
Chap. X.
On her ceasing to speak to me, those six young men who
were engaged in building came and conveyed her to the tower, and other
four lifted up the seat and carried it also to the tower. The faces of
these last I did not see, for they were turned away from me. And as she
was going, I asked her to reveal to me the meaning of the three forms in
which she appeared to me. In reply she said to me: “With regard
to them, you must ask another to reveal their meaning to you.”
For she had appeared to me, brethren, in the first vision the previous
year under the form of an exceedingly old woman, sitting in a chair. In
the second vision her face was youthful, but her skin and hair betokened
age, and she stood while she spoke to me. She was also more joyful than
on the first occasion. But in the third vision she was entirely youthful
and exquisitely beautiful, except only that she had the hair of an old
woman; but her face beamed with joy, and she sat on a seat. Now I was
exceeding sad in regard to these appearances, for I longed much to know
what the visions meant. Then I see the old woman in a vision of the
night saying unto me: “Every prayer should be accompanied with
humility: fast,121
therefore, and you will obtain
from the Lord what you beg.” I fasted therefore for one day.
That very night there appeared to me a young man,
who said, “Why do you frequently ask revelations in prayer? Take
heed lest by asking many things you injure your flesh: be content
with these revelations. Will you
be able to see greater122
| 122
Literally, “stronger,” and therefore more injurious to the
body. | revelations than those which you have seen?” I
answered and said to him, “Sir, one thing only I ask, that in regard
to these three forms the revelation may be rendered complete.” He
answered me, “How long are ye senseless?123
But your doubts make
you senseless, because you have not your hearts turned towards the
Lord.” But I answered and said to him, “From you, sir,
we shall learn these things more accurately.”
Chap. XI.
“Hear then,” said he, “with
regard to the three forms, concerning which you are inquiring. Why
in the first vision did she appear to you as an old woman seated on a
chair? Because your spirit is now old and withered up, and has lost its
power in consequence of your infirmities and doubts. For, like elderly
men who have no hope of renewing their strength, and expect nothing but
their last sleep, so you, weakened by worldly occupations, have given
yourselves up to sloth, and have not cast your cares upon the Lord.124
Your
spirit therefore is broken, and you have grown old in your sorrows.”
“I should like then to know, sir, why she sat on a chair?”
He answered, “Because every weak person sits on a chair on account
of his weakness, that his weakness may be sustained. Lo! you have the
form of the first vision.”
Chap. XII.
“Now in the second vision you saw her standing
with a youthful countenance, and more joyful than before; still she had
the skin and hair of an aged woman. Hear,” said he, “this
parable also. When one becomes somewhat old, he despairs of himself on
account of his weakness and poverty, and looks forward to nothing but
the last day of his life. Then suddenly an inheritance is left him:
and hearing of this, he rises up, and becoming exceeding joyful, he
puts on strength. And now he no longer reclines, but stands up; and
his spirit, already destroyed by his previous actions, is renewed,125
and he no longer sits, but acts with vigour. So happened it with
you on hearing the revelation which God gave you. For the Lord had
compassion on you, and renewed your spirit, and ye laid aside your
infirmities. Vigour arose within you, and ye grew strong in faith; and
the Lord,126
seeing your strength, rejoiced. On
this account He showed you the building of the tower; and He will show
you other things, if you continue at peace with each other with all
your heart.”
Chap. XIII.
“Now, in the third vision, you saw her still
younger, and she was noble and joyful, and her shape was beautiful.127
For, just as
when some good news comes suddenly to one who is sad, immediately he
forgets his former sorrows, and looks for nothing else than the good
news which he has heard, and for the future is made strong for good,
and his spirit is renewed on account of the joy which he has received;
so ye also have received the renewal of your spirits by seeing these
good things. As to your seeing her sitting on a seat, that means that
her position is one of strength, for a seat has four feet and stands
firmly. For the world also is kept together by means of four elements.
Those, therefore, who repent completely and with the whole heart,
will become young and firmly established. You now have the revelation
completely given you.128
| 128
[As Dupin suggest of The Shepherd, generally, one may feel that
these “revelations” would be better without the symbolical
part.] | Make no further demands for revelations. If anything
ought to be revealed, it will be revealed to you.”E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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