THE THIRD BOOK OF ST. HERMAS, CALLED HIS

SIMILITUDES.

a Antioch. Hom. xv.

SIMILITUDE I.

That seeing we have no abiding city in this world, we ought to look after that which is to come.

AND he said unto me, Ye know that ye, who are the servants of the Lord, live here as in a pilgrimage; for your city is far off from this city.

2 If, therefore, ye know your city in which ye are to dwell, why do ye here buy estates, and provide yourselves with delicacies, and stately buildings, and superfluous houses? For he that provides himself these things in this city, does not think of returning into his own city.

3 O foolish, and doubtful, and wretched man; who understandest not that all these things belong to other men, and are under the power of another. For the Lord of this city saith unto thee, Either obey my laws, or depart out of my city.

4 What, therefore, shalt thou do who art subject to a law in thine own city? Canst thou for thy estate, or for any of those things

which thou hast provided, deny thy law? But if thou shalt deny it, and wilt afterwards return into thy own city, thou shalt not be received, but shalt be excluded thence.

5 See, therefore, that like a man in another country, thou procure no more to thyself than what is necessary, and sufficient for thec; and be ready, that when the God or Lord of this city shall drive thee out of it, thou mayest oppose his law, and go into thine own city; where thou mayest with all cheerfulness live according to their own law without wrong.

6 Take heed therefore, ye that serve God, and have him in your hearts: work ye the works of God, being mindful both of his commands, and of his promises, which he has promised; and be assured that he will make them good unto you, if ye shall keep his command

ments.

b

7 Instead therefore of the possessions that ye would otherwise purchase, redeem those Souls. that are in want from their necessities, as every one is able; justify the widows; judge. the cause of the fatherless; and spend your riches and your wealth in such works as these.

8 For, for this end has God enriched you, that ye might fulfil these kind of services. It is much better to do this, than to buy lands or houses; because all such things shall perish with this present time.

9 But what ye shall do for the name of the Lord, ye shall find in your city, and shall have joy without sadness or fear. Wherefore covet not the riches of the heathen; for they are destructive to the servants of God. beth. Pro 10 But trade with your own riches which quas habetis

CMS. Lam

prias autem

agite.

you possess, by which ye may attain unto everlasting joy.

11 And do not commit adultery, nor touch any other man's wife, nor desire her; but covet that which is thy own business, and thou shalt be saved.

SIMILITUDE II.

As the vine is supported by the elm, so is the rich man helped by the prayers of the poor.

AS I was walking into the field, and considered the elm and the vine, and thought with myself of their fruits, an angel appeared unto me, and said unto me, What is it that thou thinkest upon thus long within thyself?

2 And I said unto him, Sir, I think of this vine and this elm, because their fruits are fair. d Vid. Ori- And he said unto me, These two trees are set for a pattern to the servants of God.

gen. in Jos. liom. X.

d

3 And i said unto him, Sir, I would know in what the pattern of these trees which thou mentionest, dost consist. Hearken, saith he; Seest thou this vine and this elm? Sir, said I, I see them.

4 This vine, saith he, is fruitful, but the elm is a tree without fruit. Nevertheless this vine, unless it were set by this elm and supported by it, would not bear much fruit; but lying along upon the ground, would bear but ill fruit, because it did not hang upon the elm; whereas, now being supported upon the elm, it bears fruit both for itself, and for that.

5 See, therefore, how the elm gives no less, but rather more fruit, than the vine. How, sir, said I, does it bear more fruit than the vine? Because, said he, the vine, being sup

ported upon the elm, gives both much and
good fruit: whereas, if it lay along upon the
ground, it would bear but little, and that very
ill too.

6 This similitude, therefore, is set forth to the servants of God; and it represents the rich and poor man. I answered, Sir, make this manifest unto me. Hear, said he; The rich man has wealth; howbeit towards the Lord he is poor; for he is taken up about his Distracted. riches, and prays but little to the Lord; and the prayers which he makes are lazy and without force.

e

7 When, therefore, the rich man reaches out to the poor those things which he wants, the poor man prays unto the Lord for the rich; and God grants unto the rich man all good things, because the poor man is rich in prayer; and his requests have great power with the Lord.

8 Then the rich man ministers all things to the poor, because he perceives that he is heard by the Lord; and he the more willingly, and without doubting, affords him what he wants, and takes care that nothing be lacking to him.

9 And the poor man gives thanks unto the Lord for the rich; because they do both their work from the Lord.

10 With men, therefore, the elm is not thought to give any fruit; and they know not, neither understand that its company being added to the vine, the vine bears a double increase, both for itself and for the elm.

11 Even so the poor, praying unto the Lord for the rich, are heard by him; and their riches are increased, because they minister to the poor of their wealth. They are, there

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fore, both made partakers of each other's good works.

12 Whosoever, therefore, shall do these things, he shall not be forsaken by the Lord, but shall be written in the book of life.

13 Happy are they who are rich, and perceive themselves to be increased: for he that is sensible of this, will be able to minister somewhat to others.

f Who are

SIMILITUDE III.

As the green trees in the winter cannot be distinguished from the dry; so neither can the righteous from the wicked in this present world.

AGAIN he showed me many trees whose leaves were shed, and which seemed to me to be withered, for they were all alike. And he said unto me, Seest thou these trees? I said, Sir, I see that they look like dry trees.

2 He answering, said unto me, These trees are like unto the men who live in this present world. I replied, Sir, why are they like unto dried trees? Because, said he, neither the righteous nor the unrighteous are known from one another; but are all alike in this present world.

3 For this world is as the winter to the righteous men, because they are not known, but dwell among sinners.

4 As in the winter, all the trees, having lost their leaves, are like dry trees; nor can it be discerned which are dry, and which are green: so in this present world neither the righteous nor wicked are discerned from each other; but they are all alike.