said I, I see them. This tower, replied she, is supported by them, according to the command of the Lord hear therefore the effects of them. The first of them which holds tast with her hand, is called Faith; by her the elect shall be saved. The next which is girt up, and looks manly, is named Abstinence she is the daughter of Faith. Whosoever therefore shall follow her, shall be happy in all his life; because he shall abstain from all evil works, believing that if he shall contain himself from all concupiscence, he shall be the heir of eternal life. And what, lady, said I, are the other five? They are, replied she, the daughters of one another. The first of them is called Simplicity; the next Innocence; the third Modesty; then Discipline, and the last of all is Charity. When therefore thou shalt have fulfilled the works of their mother, thou shalt be able to do all things. Lady, said I, I would know what particular virtue every one of these has. Hear then, replied she; they have equal virtues, and their virtues are knit together, and follow one another as they were born. From faith proceeds abstinence; from abstinence simplicity; from simplicity, innocence; from innocence, modesty; from modesty, discipline and charity. Therefore the works of these are holy and chaste, and right. Whosoever therefore shall serve these, and hold fast to their works, he shall have his dwelling in the tower with the saints of God. Then I asked her concerning the times, whether the end were now at hand? But she cried out with a loud voice, saying; O foolish man! dost thou not see the tower yet a building? When therefore the tower shall be finished, and built, it shall have an end; and indeed it shall soon be accomplished. But do not ask me any more questions. What has been said may suf fice thee and all the saints; for the refreshment of your spirits. For these things have not been revealed to thee only, but that thou mayest make them maniFor therefore, O Hermas, after three

fest unto all.

days thou must understand these words which I begin to speak unto thee, that thou mayest speak them in the ears of the Saints; that when they shall have heard and done them, they may be cleansed from their iniquities, and thou together with them.

9. Hear me therefore, O my sons! I have bred you up in much simplicity, and innocency, and modesty, for the mercy of God, which has dropped down upon you in righteousness; that you should be sanctified and justified from all sin and wickedness: But ye will not cease from your evil doings. Now therefore hearken unto me, and have peace one with another, and visit one another, and receive one another, and do not enjoy the creatures of God alone. Give freely to them that are in need. For some by too free feeding contract an infirmity in their flesh, and do injury to their bodies; whilst the flesh of others, who have not food, wither away, because they want sufficient nourishment, and their bodies are consumed. Wherefore this intemperance is hurtful to you, who have and do not communicate to them that want. Prepare for the judgment that is about to come upon you. Ye that are the more eminent search out them that are hungary, whilst the tower is yet unfinished; for when the tower shall be finished ye shall be willing to do good, and shall not find any place in it. Beware therefore, ye that glory in your riches, lest perhaps they groan who are in want, and their sighing come up unto God, and ye be shut out with your goods without the gate of the tower. Behold I

now warn you who are set over the Church, and love the highest seats; be not ye like unto those* that work mischief; and indeed carry about their poison in boxes: but ye contain your poison and infection() in your hearts; and will not purge them, and mix your sense with a pure heart, that ye may find mercy with the great king. Take heed, my children, that

* Poisoners,

(z) Medicaments.

your dissentions deprive you not of your lives. How will ye instruct the elect of God, when ye yourselves want correction? Wherefore admonish one another, and be at peace among yourselves; that I standing before your father, may give an account for you unto the Lord.

10. And when she had made an end of talking with me, the six young men that built, came and carried her to the tower; and four others took up the seat on which she sat, and they also went again to the tower. I saw not the faces of these, for their backs were towards me. As she was going away, I asked her that

she would reveal to me what concerned the three forms in which she had appeared unto me. But she answering said unto me, concerning these things thou must ask some other, that they may be revealed unto thee. Now, brethren, in the first vision the last year, she appeared unto me exceeding old, and sitting in a chair. In another vision, she had indeed a youthful face, but her flesh and hair were old; and she talked with me standing, and was more cheerful than the first time. In the third vision, she was in all respects much younger, and comely to the eye; only she had the hair of an aged person; yet she looked cheerful, and sat upon a seat. I was therefore very sad concerning these things, until I might understand the vision. Wherefore I saw the same old woman in a vision of the night saying unto me: all prayer needeth humiliation; fast, therefore, and thou shalt learn from the Lord that which thou dost ask. I fastened therefore one day. The same night a young man appeared to me and said: why dost thou thus often desire revelations in thy prayers? take heed that by asking many things, thou hurt not thy body. Let these revelations suffice thee. Canst thou see more notable revelations than those which thou hast already received? I answered and said unto him : Sir, I only ask this one thing upon the account of the three figures of the old woman that appeared to me,

that the revelation may be complete. He answered me; you are not without understanding, but your doubts make you so; forasmuch as you have not your heart with the Lord. I replied and said, but we shall learn these things more carefully from you.

11. Hear then, says he, concerning, the figures, about which you inquire. And first, in the first vision she appeared to thee in the shape of an old woman, sitting in a chair; because your old spirit was decayed and without strength, by reason of your infirmi ties, and the doubtfulness of your heart. For as they who are old have no hope of renewing themselves, nor expect any thing but their departure: So you being weakened through your wordly affairs gave yourself up to sloth, and cast not away your solicitude from yourself upon the Lord; and your sense was confused and you grew old in your sadness. But sir, I would know why she sat upon a chair? He answered, because every one that is weak sitteth upon a chair, by reason of his infirmity, that his weakness may be upheld: behold therefore the figure of the first vision.

12. In the second vision you saw her standing, and having a youthful face, and more cheerful than her former; but her flesh and her hair were antient. Hear said he, this parable also. When any one grows old, he despairs of himself by reason of his infirmity and poverty; and expects nothing but the last day of his life. But on a sudden an inheritance is left to him; and he hears of it, and rises; and being become cheerful, he puts on new strength and now he no longer sits down, but stands, and is delivered from his former sorrow; and sits not, but acts manfully. So you, having heard the revelation which God revealed unto you; because God had compassion upon you, and renewed your spirit; both laid aside your infirmities, and strength came to you, and you grew strong in the faith; and God seeing your strength rejoiced. For this cause he shewed you the building of the

tower, and will shew other things unto you, if you shall have peace with all your heart among each other.

13. But in the third vision you saw her yet younger, fair and cheerful, and of a serene countenance; for as if some good news comes to one that is sad, he straightway forgets his sadness, and regards nothing else but the good news which he has heard, and for the rest he is comforted, and his spirit is renewed through the joy which he has received: even so you have been refreshed in your spirit, by seeing these good things. And for that you saw her sitting upon a bench, it denotes a strong position; because a bench has four feet, and stands strongly. And even the world itself is upheld by the four elements. They therefore that repent perfectly, shall be young; and they that turn from their sins with their whole heart, shall be established. And now you have the revelation fully; ask no more to have any thing farther revealed unto you: but if any thing be to be revealed, it shall be made manifest unto you.

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VISION IV.

OF THE TRIAL AND TRIBULATION THAT IS ABOUT TO COME UPON MEN.

1. I saw a vision, brethren, twenty days after the former vision; a representation of the tribulation that is at hand. I was walking in the field way; (now from the public way to the manor whither I went is about ten furlongs: it is a way very little frequented) and as I was walking alone, I entreated the Lord that he would confirm the revelation which he had shewed unto me by his holy church, and would grant