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The Pastor of Hermas
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Introductory Note to The Pastor of Hermas
[151] [“The Shepherd,” then, is the “angel of repentance,” here represented as a guardian angel. This gives the work its character, as enforcing primarily the anti-Montanist principle of the value of true repentance in the sight of God.]
Commandment First. On Faith in God.
[152] [These first words are quoted by Irenæus, vol. i. p. 488, this series. Note that this book begins with the fundamental principle of faith, which is everywhere identified by Hermas (as in Vision ii. cap. 2) with faith in the Son of God. The Holy Spirit is also everywhere exhibited in this work. But the careful student will discover a very deep plan in the treatment of this subject. Repentance and faith are the great themes, and the long-suffering of God, against the Montanists. But he begins by indicating the divine character and the law of God. He treats of sin in its relations to the law and the gospel: little by little, opening the way, he reaches a point, in the Eighth Similitude, where he introduces the New Law, identifying it, indeed, with the old, but magnifying the gospel of the Son of God. Hermas takes for granted the “Son of man;” but everywhere he avoids the names of His humanity, and brings out “the Son of God” with emphasis, in the spirit of St. John’s Gospel (cap. i.) and of the Epistle to the Hebrews (cap. i.), as if he feared the familiarities even of believers in speaking of Jesus or of Christ, without recognising His eternal power and Godhead.]
[153] Contained.—Vat. and Pal. add: and who cannot be defined in words, nor conceived by the mind. [Here we have the “Incomprehensible,” so familiar in the liturgic formula improperly called the Athanasian Creed. In the Latin immensus, in the Greek ἄπειρος; i.e., “non mensurabilis, quiâ inlocalis, incircumscriptus, ubique totus, ubique prœsens, ubique potens.” Not intelligible is too frequently supposed to be the sense, but this is feeble and ambiguous. See Waterland, Works, iv. p. 320 London, 1823.]
Commandment Second. On Avoiding Evil-Speaking, and on Giving Alms in Simplicity.
[154] If … brother. [Jas. iv. 11.] And if you believe the slanderer, you will also be guilty of sin, in that you have belived one who speaks evil of your brother.—Vat. For if you give your assent to the detractor, and believe what is said of one in his absence, you also will be like to him, and acting ruinously towards your brother, and you are guilty of the same sin as the person who slanders.—Pal.
[155] For slander is ruinous.—Vat. For it is wicked to slander any one.—Pal.
[156] For … condemned, omitted in Vat.
[157] This service … God. And he has accomplished this service to God simply and gloriously.—Vat. [Rom. xii. 8.]
[158] The Vat. adds: and a blessing may fall on your house.
Commandment Third. On Avoiding Falsehood, and on the Repentance of Hermas for His Dissimulation.
[159] [Eph. iv. 25, 29.]
[160] Dwelleth in you. Who put the spirit within you.—Vat.
[161] [The seven gifts of the Spirit are here referred to, especially the gift of “true godliness,” with a reference to the parable of the talents (Matt. xxv. 15), and also to 1 John ii. 20-27.]
[162] Cunningly to all. Have ever lived in dissimulation.—Vat. Lived cunningly with all.—Pal. [Custom-house oaths and business lies among moderns.]
[163] The Vat. adds: of God. [1 John iii. 19-21, iv. 6, and Eph. iv. 30.]
[164] For … truth. For even they can become worthy of credit, if you will speak the truth in future; and if you keep the truth.—Vat. [See, under the Tenth Mandate, p. 26, in this book.]
[165] This thought. [Matt. v. 28. See, further, Simil. ix. cap. II.] The thought of another man’s wife or of fornication.
[166] Questions. “I charge you,” said he, “to guard your chastity, and let no thought enter your heart of another man’s marriage (i.e., wife), or of fornication, for this produces a great transgression. But be always mindful of the Lord at all hours, and you will never sin. For if this very wicked thought enter your heart, you commit a great sin, and they who practice such deeds follow the way of death. Take heed, therefore, and refrain from this thought. For where chastity remains in the heart of a righteous man, never ought there to arise any evil thought.” I said to him,” Sir, permit me to say a few words to you.” “Say on,” said he.—Vat.
[167] Matt. v. 32, xix. 9.
[168] [Not frequently … one repentance. True penitence is a habit of life. An apparent safe-guard against the reproaches of Montanism, and a caution not to turn forgiveness into a momentary sponge without avoiding renewed transgression.]
[169] Who … actions. But he who makes an image also commits adultery.—Vat.
[170] Any one. She.—Vat. [2 Thess. iii. 14; 2 John 11.]
[171] There … cure. God, who has power to heal, will provide a remedy.—Vat. [This whole passage seems to refer to the separation of penitents under canonical discipline. Tertullian, Pudicit., capp. 5, 13, and De Penitent., cap. 9. 2 Thess. iii. 14.]
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