Bad Advertisement?
Are you a Christian?
Online Store:Visit Our Store
| Similitude Seventh. They Who Repent Must Bring Forth Fruits Worthy of Repentance.
PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP 
Similitude Seventh.
They Who Repent Must Bring Forth Fruits
Worthy of Repentance.
After a few days I saw him in the same plain where
I had also seen the shepherds; and he said to me, “What do
you wish with me?” I said to him, “Sir, that you would
order the shepherd who punishes to depart out of my house, because
he afflicts me exceedingly.” “It is necessary,” he
replied, “that you be afflicted; for thus,” he continued,
“did the glorious angel command concerning you, as he wishes you
to be tried.” “What have I done which is so bad, sir,”
I replied, “that I should be delivered over to this angel?”
“Listen,” he said: “Your sins are many, but not so
great as to require that you be delivered over to this angel;
but your household has committed great iniquities and sins, and the
glorious angel has been incensed at them on account of their deeds; and
for this reason he commanded you to be afflicted for a certain time,
that they also might repent, and purify themselves from every desire
of this world. When, therefore, they repent and are purified, then the
angel of punishment will depart.” I said to him, “Sir, if
they have done such things as to incense the glorious angel against them,
yet what have I done?” He replied, “They cannot be afflicted
at all, unless you, the head of the house, be afflicted: for when you
are afflicted, of necessity they also suffer affliction; but if you are
in comfort, they can feel no affliction.” “Well, sir,”
I said, “they have repented with their whole heart.” “I
know, too,” he answered, “that they have repented with their
whole heart: do you think, however, that the sins of those who repent are
remitted?305
| 305 The Vat. and Pal. have
protinus, “immediately.” [Wake adopts this reading,
which appears to be required by the context.] | Not altogether,
but he who repents must torture his own soul, and be exceedingly humble
in all his conduct, and be afflicted with many kinds of affliction;
and if he endure the afflictions that come upon him, He who created
all things, and endued them with power, will assuredly have compassion,
and will heal him; and this will He do when He sees the heart
of every penitent pure from every evil
thing:306
and it is profitable for you and for your house to suffer affliction now.
But why should I say much to you? You must be afflicted, as that angel
of the Lord commanded who delivered you to me. And for this give thanks
to the Lord, because He has deemed you worthy of showing you beforehand
this affliction, that, knowing it before it comes, you may be able to
bear it with courage.”307
| 307 The
Vatican has: “But rather give thanks to the Lord, that He, knowing
what is to come to pass, has deemed you worthy to tell you beforehand
that affiction is coming upon those who are able to bear it.”
[1 Cor. x. 13. But the whole argument turns on Jas. i. 2, as Hermas
delights in this practical apostle.] | I said to him, “Sir,
be thou with me, and I will be able to bear all affliction.”
“I will be with you,” he said, “and I will ask the
angel of punishment to afflict you more lightly; nevertheless, you will
be afflicted for a little time, and again you will be re-established in
your house. Only continue humble, and serve the Lord in all purity of
heart, you and your children, and your house, and walk in my commands
which I enjoin upon you, and your repentance will be deep and pure; and
if you observe these things with your household, every affliction will
depart from you.308
| 308 [Sam. iii. 31,
32, 33.] | And affliction,” he added, “will depart
from all who walk in these my commandments.”E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
|
