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| Similitude Eighth. The Sins of the Elect and of the Penitent are of Many Kinds, But All Will Be Rewarded According to the Measure of Their Repentance and Good Works.
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Similitude Eighth.
The Sins of the Elect and of the Penitent are of
Many Kinds, But All Will Be Rewarded According to the Measure of Their
Repentance and Good Works.
Chap. I.
He showed me a large willow tree overshadowing plains
and mountains, and under the shade of this willow had assembled all
those who were called by the name of the Lord. And a glorious angel of
the Lord, who was very tall, was standing beside the willow, having a
large pruning-knife, and he was cutting little twigs from the willow and
distributing them among the people that were overshadowed by the willow;
and the twigs which he gave them were small, about a cubit, as it were,
in length. And after they had all received the twigs, the angel laid
down the pruning-knife, and that tree was sound, as I had seen it at
first. And I marvelled within myself, saying, “How is the tree
sound, after so many branches have been cut off?” And the Shepherd
said to me, “Do not be surprised if the tree remains sound after
so many branches were lopped off; [but wait,309
] and when you shall have
seen everything, then it will be explained to you what it means.”
The angel who had distributed the branches among the people again asked
them from them, and in the order in which they had received them were they
summoned to him, and each one of them returned his branch. And the angel
of the Lord took and looked at them. From some he received the branches
withered and moth-eaten; those who returned branches in that state the
angel of the Lord ordered to stand apart. Others, again, returned them
withered, but not moth-eaten; and these he ordered to stand apart. And
others returned them half-withered, and these stood apart; and others
returned their branches half-withered and having cracks in them, and these
stood apart. [And others returned their branches green and having cracks
in them; and these stood apart.310
| 310
Omitted in Lips. and Vat. | ] And others returned their branches,
one-half withered and the other green; and these stood apart. And others
brought their branches two-thirds green and the remaining third withered;
and these stood apart. And others returned them two-thirds withered
and one-third green; and these stood apart. And others returned their
branches nearly all green, the smallest part only, the top, being
withered, but they had cracks in them; and these stood apart. And
of others very little was green, but the remaining parts withered;
and these stood apart. And others came bringing their branches green,
as they had received them from the angel. And the majority of the crowd
returned branches of that kind, and with these the angel was exceedingly
pleased; and these stood apart. [And others returned their branches green
and having offshoots; and these stood apart, and with these the angel
was exceedingly delighted.311
] And others returned their branches green
and with offshoots, and the offshoots had some fruit, as it were;312
and those men
whose branches were found to be of that kind were exceedingly joyful. And
the angel was exultant because of them; and the Shepherd also rejoiced
greatly because of them.
Chap. II.
And the angel of the Lord ordered crowns to
be brought;313
and there were brought crowns, formed, as it were,
of palms; and he crowned the men who had returned the branches which
had offshoots and some fruit, and sent them away into the tower. And
the others also he sent into the tower, those, namely, who had returned
branches that were green and had offshoots but no fruit, having given
them seals.314
And all who went into the tower had the same
clothing—white as snow.315
And
those who returned their branches green, as they had received them,
he set free, giving them clothing and seals. Now after the angel had
finished these things, he said to the Shepherd, “I am going away,
and you will send these away within the walls, according as each one
is worthy to have his dwelling. And examine their branches carefully,
and so dismiss them; but examine them with care. See that no
one escape you,” he added; “and if any escape you, I will
try them at the altar.”316
Having said these words to the
Shepherd, he departed. And after the angel had departed, the Shepherd
said to me, “Let us take the branches of all these and plant them,
and see if any of them will live.” I said to him, “Sir,
how can these withered branches live?” He answered, and said,
“This tree is a willow, and of a kind that is very tenacious
of life. If, therefore, the branches be planted, and receive a little
moisture, many of them will live. And now let us try, and pour water317
upon
them; and if any of them live I shall rejoice with them, and if they do
not I at least will not be found neglectful.” And the Shepherd bade
me call them as each one was placed. And they came, rank by rank, and gave
their branches to the Shepherd. And the Shepherd received the branches,
and planted them in rows; and after he had planted them he poured much
water upon them, so that the branches could not be seen for the water;
and after the branches had drunk it in, he said to me, “Let us go,
and return after a few days, and inspect all the branches; for He who
created this tree wishes all those to live who received branches318
from
it. And I also hope that the greater part of these branches which received
moisture and drank of the water will live.”
Chap. III.
I said to him, “Sir, explain to me what this tree
means, for I am perplexed about it, because, after so many branches have
been cut off, it continues sound, and nothing appears to have been cut
away from it. By this, now, I am perplexed.” “Listen,”
he said: “This great tree319
that casts its shadow over plains, and
mountains, and all the earth, is the law of God that was given to the
whole world; and this law is the Son of God,320
| 320 “And by this law the Son of God was preached to all
the ends of the earth.”—Vat. [Hermas again introduces
here the name which he made his base in Vision ii. 2.] |
proclaimed to the ends of the earth; and the people who are under its
shadow are they who have heard the proclamation, and have believed
upon Him. And the great and glorious angel Michael is he who has
authority over this people, and governs them;321
for this is he who gave them the law322
into the hearts of believers: he
accordingly superintends them to whom he gave it, to see if they have
kept the same. And you see the branches of each one, for the branches
are the law. You see, accordingly, many branches that have been rendered
useless, and you will know them all—those who have not kept the
law; and you will see the dwelling of each one.” I said to him,
“Sir, why did he dismiss some into the tower, and leave others to
you?” “All,” he answered, “who transgressed the
law which they received from him, he left under my power for repentance;
but all who have satisfied the law, and kept it, he retains under his
own authority.” “Who, then,” I continued, “are
they who were crowned, and who go to the tower?” “These are
they who have suffered on account of the law; but the others, and they
who returned their branches green, and with offshoots, but without fruit,
are they who have been afflicted on account of the law, but who have not
suffered nor denied323
| 323 [Vision
ii. 2. Denying the Son.] | their law; and they who returned
their branches green as they had received them, are the venerable, and
the just, and they who have walked carefully in a pure heart, and have
kept the commandments of the Lord. And the rest you will know when I have
examined those branches which have been planted and watered.”
Chap. IV.
And after a few days we came to the place, and
the Shepherd sat down in the angel’s place, and I stood beside
him. And he said to me, “Gird yourself with pure, undressed
linen made of sackcloth;” and seeing me girded, and ready to
minister to him, “Summon,” he said, “the men to
whom belong the branches that were planted, according to the order in
which each one gave them in.” So I went away to the plain, and
summoned them all, and they all stood in their ranks. He said to them,
“Let each one pull out his own branch, and bring it to me.”
The first to give in were those who had them withered and cut; and324
| 324 And … cut, omitted in
Pal. | because they were found to be thus withered and cut, he
commanded them to stand apart. And next they gave them in who had them
withered, but not cut. And some of them gave in their branches green,
and some withered and eaten as by a moth. Those that gave them in green,
accordingly, he ordered to stand apart; and those who gave them in dry
and cut, he ordered to stand along with the first. Next they gave them
in who had them half-withered and
cracked;325
| 325 [Wake reads
“cleft.”] | and many of them gave them in green
and without cracks; and some green and with offshoots and fruits upon
the offshoots, such as they had who went, after being crowned, into the
tower. And some handed them in withered and eaten, and some withered
and uneaten; and some as they were, half-withered and cracked. And he
commanded them each one to stand apart, some towards their own rows,
and others apart from them.
Chap. V.
Then they gave in their branches who had them green,
but cracked: all these gave them in green, and stood in their own row. And
the Shepherd was pleased with these, because they were all changed,
and had lost their cracks.326
And they also gave them in who had them half-green
and half-withered: of some, accordingly, the branches were found
completely green; of others, half-withered; of others, withered and eaten;
of others, green, and having offshoots. All these were sent away, each to
his own row. [Next they gave in who had them two parts green and one-third
withered. Many of them gave them half-withered; and others withered and
rotten; and others half-withered and cracked, and a few green. These
all stood in their own row.327
| 327
Omitted in Lips. Translation is made from Vat. | ] And they gave
them in who had them green, but to a very slight extent withered and
cracked.328
| 328 The versions vary
in some of the minute particulars. | Of these, some gave them
in green, and others green and with offshoots. And these also went away
to their own row. Next they gave them who had a very small part green
and the other parts withered. Of these the branches were found for the
most part green and having offshoots, and fruit upon the offshoots, and
others altogether green. With these branches the Shepherd was exceedingly
pleased, because they were found in this state. And these went away,
each to his own row.
Chap. VI.
After the Shepherd had examined the branches of them
all, he said to me, “I told you that this tree was tenacious of
life. You see,” he continued, “how many repented and were
saved.” “I see, sir,” I replied. “That you may
behold,” he added, “the great mercy of the Lord, that it
is great and glorious, and that He has given His Spirit to those who
are worthy of repentance.” “Why then, sir,” I said,
“did not all these repent?” He answered, “To them whose
heart He saw would become pure, and obedient to Him, He gave power to
repent with the whole heart. But to them whose deceit and wickedness He
perceived, and saw that they intended to repent hypocritically, He did
not grant repentance,329
| 329 [The
by-gone quarrels about foreknowledge and predestination are innocently
enough anticipated here.] | lest they should again profane His
name.” I said to him, “Sir, show me now, with respect to
those who gave in the branches, of what sort they are, and their abode,
in order that they hearing it who believed, and received the seal, and
broke it, and did not keep it whole, may, on coming to a knowledge of
their deeds, repent, and receive from you a seal, and may glorify the
Lord because He had compassion upon them, and sent you to renew their
spirits.” “Listen,” he said: “they whose branches
were found withered and moth-eaten are the apostates and traitors of the
Church, who have blasphemed the Lord in their sins, and have, moreover,
been ashamed of the name of the Lord by which they were called.330
These,
therefore, at the end were lost unto God. And you see that not a single
one of them repented, although they heard the words which I spake
to them, which I enjoined upon you. From such life departed.331
And
they who gave them in withered and undecayed, these also were near to
them; for they were hypocrites, and introducers of strange doctrines,
and subverters of the servants of God, especially of those who had
sinned, not allowing them to repent, but persuading them by foolish
doctrines.332
| 332 [Here is a note
of Hermas’ time. Not only does it imply the history of heresies as
of some progress, but it marks the Montanist refusal to receive penitent
lapsers.] | These, accordingly, have a hope of repentance. And
you see that many of them also have repented since I spake to them,
and they will still repent. But all who will not repent have lost their
lives; and as many of them as repented became good, and their dwelling
was appointed within the first walls; and some of them ascended even
into the tower. You see, then,” he said, “that repentance
involves life to sinners, but non-repentance death.”
Chap. VII.
“And as many as gave in the branches
half-withered and cracked, hear also about them. They whose branches were
half-withered to the same extent are the wavering; for they neither live,
nor are they dead. And they who have them half-withered and cracked are
both waverers and slanderers, [railing against the absent,] and never
at peace with one another, but always at variance. And yet to these
also,” he continued, “repentance is possible. You see,”
he said, “that some of them have repented, and there is still
remaining in them,” he continued, “a hope of repentance. And
as many of them,” he added, “as have repented, shall have
their
dwelling in the tower. And those
of them who have been slower in repenting shall dwell within the
walls. And as many as do not repent at all, but abide in their deeds,
shall utterly perish. And they who gave in their branches green and
cracked were always faithful and good, though emulous of each other
about the foremost places, and about fame:333
now all these
are foolish, in indulging in such a rivalry. Yet they also, being
naturally good,334
| 334 [Why “naturally”? Latin, “de ipsis
tamen qui boni fuerunt.” Greek, ἀγαθοὶ
ὄντες. Gebhardt and Harnack,
Lips. 1877.] | on hearing my commandments, purified themselves,
and soon repented. Their dwelling, accordingly, was in the tower. But
if any one relapse into strife, he will be east out of the tower,
and will lose his life.335
Life is the possession of all who keep the
commandments of the Lord; but in the commandments there is no rivalry
in regard to the first places, or glory of any kind, but in regard to
patience and personal humility. Among such persons, then, is the life of
the Lord, but amongst the quarrelsome and transgressors, death.”
Chap. VIII.
“And they who gave in their branches half-green
and half-withered, are those who are immersed in business, and do not
cleave to the saints. For this reason, the one half of them is living,
and the other half dead.336
Many, accordingly, who heard my commands
repented, and those at least who repented had their dwelling in the
tower. But some of them at last fell away: these, accordingly, have not
repentance, for on account of their business they blasphemed the Lord, and
denied Him. They therefore lost their lives through the wickedness which
they committed. And many of them doubted. These still have repentance
in their power, if they repent speedily; and their abode will be in the
tower. But if they are slower in repenting, they will dwell within the
walls; and if they do not repent, they too have lost their lives. And
they who gave in their branches two-thirds withered and one-third green,
are those who have denied [the Lord] in various ways. Many, however,
repented, but some of them hesitated and were in doubt. These, then,
have repentance within their reach, if they repent quickly, and do not
remain in their pleasures;337
but if they abide in their deeds, these, too,
work to themselves death.”
Chap. IX.
“And they who returned their branches two-thirds
withered and one-third green, are those that were faithful indeed; but
after acquiring wealth, and becoming distinguished amongst the heathen,
they clothed themselves with great pride, and became lofty-minded,
and deserted the truth, and did not cleave to the righteous, but
lived with the heathen, and this way of life became more agreeable to
them.338
| 338 [A note of the time
of composing The Shepherd. This chapter speaks of experiences
of life among heathen and of wordly Christians, inconsistent with the
times of Clement.] | They did not, however, depart from God,
but remained in the faith, although not working the works of faith. Many
of them accordingly repented, and their dwelling was in the tower. And
others continuing to live until the end with the heathen, and being
corrupted by their vain glories, [departed from God, serving the works
and deeds of the heathen.339
| 339
Omitted in Lips.; supplied from Vat. | ] These were reckoned
with the heathen. But others of them hesitated, not hoping to be saved on
account of the deeds which they had done; while others were in doubt, and
caused divisions among themselves. To those, therefore, who were in doubt
on account of their deeds, repentance is still open; but their repentance
ought to be speedy, that their dwelling may be in the tower. And to those
who do not repent, but abide in their pleasures, death is near.”
Chap. X.
“And they who give in their branches green,
but having the tips withered and cracked, these were always good,
and faithful, and distinguished before God; but they sinned a very
little through indulging small desires, and finding little faults with
one another. But on hearing my words the greater part of them quickly
repented, and their dwelling was upon the tower. Yet some of them
were in doubt; and certain of them who were in doubt wrought greater
dissension. Among these, therefore, is hope of repentance, because they
were always good; and with difficulty will any one of them perish. And
they who gave up their branches withered,340
| 340 “Withered, all but their tops, which alone were
green.”—Vat. and Pal. | but having
a very small part green, are those who believed only, yet continue
working the works of iniquity. They never, however, departed from God,
but gladly bore His name, and joyfully received His servants into their
houses.341
Having accordingly heard
of this repentance, they unhesitatingly repented, and practice all virtue
and righteousness; and some of them even [suffered, being willingly put
to death342
| 342 Omitted in Lips.,
which has, instead, “are afraid.” | ], knowing
their deeds which they had done. Of all these, therefore, the dwelling
shall be in the tower.”
Chap. XI.
And after he had finished the explanations of
all the branches, he said to me,
“Go and tell them to every one, that they may repent, and they
shall live unto God.343
| 343 [A
cheering conclusion of his severe judgments, and aimed at the despair
created by Montanist prophesyings.] | Because the Lord, having
had compassion on all men, has sent me to give repentance, although
some are not worthy of it on account of their works; but the Lord,
being long-suffering, desires those who were called by His Son to be
saved.”344
| 344 Literally,
“the calling that was made by His Son to be saved.” The
Vatican renders this, “He wishes to preserve the invitation made
by His Son.” The Pal. has, “wishes to save His Church, which
belongs to His Son.” In the text, κλῆσις
is taken as = κλητοί. |
I said to him, “Sir, I hope that all who have heard them will
repent; for I am persuaded that each one, on coming to a knowledge of
his own works, and fearing the Lord, will repent.” He answered me,
and said, “All who with their whole heart shall purify themselves
from their wickedness before enumerated, and shall add no more to their
sins, will receive healing from the Lord for their former transgressions,
if they do not hesitate at these commandments; and they will live unto
God. But do you walk in my commandments, and live.” Having shown
me these things, and spoken all these words, he said to me, “And
the rest I will show you after a few days.”E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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