✝️The Second Book of HERMAS, called his COMMANDS [Chapter 5]✝️

✝️The Second Book of HERMAS, called his COMMANDS [Chapter 5]✝️

Chapter V.

Of the sadness of the heart, and of patience.

1 BE patient, says he, and  [note: Gr. Μακροθυμος. MS. Lam. Animæquus.] longsuffering; so shalt thou have dominion over all wicked works, and shalt  [note: Work.] fulfil all righteousness.

2 For if thou shalt be patient, the Holy Spirit which dwelleth in thee shall be pure, and not be darkened by any evil spirit; but being full of joy shall be enlarged, and feast  [note: SM. Lamb. melius, Cum. vase. Et Gr. μετα του σκευουσ, with the body or vessel.] in the body in which it dwells, and  [note: Gr. Λειτουργει τῳ κυριῳ.] serve the Lord with joy, and in great peace.

3 But if any  [note: Οξυχολια, Gr. Bitterness of gall.] anger shall overtake thee, presently the Holy Spirit which is in thee will be straightened and seek to depart from thee.

4 For he is choked by the evil spirit, and has not the  [note: Place.] liberty of  [note: Gr. ᾽Λειτουργησαι.] serving the Lord as he would for he is grieved by  [note: Ὀξυχολια.] anger.

 [note: Both Athanasius and Antiochus add these words, omitted in our copies: "For in forbearance (or long suffering) the Lord dwelleth, but in bitterness the Devil."] When, therefore, both these spirits dwell together, it is destructive to a man.

5 As if one should take a little wormwood, and put it into a vessel of honey, the whole honey would be spoiled; and a great quantity of honey is corrupted by a very little wormwood, and loses the sweetness of honey, and is no longer acceptable to its Lord because the whole honey is made bitter, and loses its use.

6 But if no wormwood be put into the honey, it is sweet and profitable to its Lord. Thus is forbearance sweeter than honey, and profitable to the Lord who dwelleth in it.

7 But anger is unprofitable. If therefore anger shall be mixed with forbearance, the soul is distressed, and its prayer is not profitable  [note: To.] with God.

8 And I said unto him, Sir, I would know the sinfulness of anger, that I may keep myself from it. And he said unto me, Thou shalt know it; and if thou shalt not keep thyself from it, thou shalt lose thy hope with all thy house. Wherefore depart from it.

9 For I the  [note: Angel.] messenger of righteousness am with thee; and all that depart from it, as many as shall repent with all their hearts, shall live unto God; and I will be with them, and will keep them all.

10 For all such as have repented have been justified by the most holy messenger, who is a minister of salvation.

11 ¶ And now, says he, hear the wickedness of anger; how evil and hurtful it is, and how it overthrows the servants of God; for it cannot  [note: Gr. work upon ενεργησαι; et MS. Lamb. facere.] hurt those that are full of faith because the  [note: Virtue.] power of God is with them; but it overthrows the doubtful, and those that are destitute of faith.

12 For as often as it sees  [note: Gr. Τοιουτους ανθρωπους.] such men, it casts itself into their hearts; and so a man or woman is in bitterness for nothing, for the things of life, or for sustenance, or for a vain word, if any should chance to fall in; or by reason of any friend, or for a debt, or for any other superfluous things of the like nature.

13 For these things are foolish, and superfluous, and vain to the servants of God. But equanimity is strong, and forcible; and of great power, and sitteth in great enlargement; is cheerful, rejoicing in peace; and glorifying God at all times  [note: In the Greek of Athananius and Antiochus the sense is fuller: Having nothing of bitterness in itself, and continuing always in meekness and quietness.] with meekness.

14 And this long-suffering dwells with those that are full of faith. But anger is foolish, and light, and empty. Now bitterness is bred through folly; by bitterness, anger; by anger, fury. And this fury arising from so many evil principles, worketh a great and incurable sin.

15 For when all these things are in the same  [note: Vessel.] man in which the Holy Spirit dwells, the vessel cannot contain them, but runs over: and because the Spirit being tender cannot tarry with the evil one; it departs and dwells with him that is meek.

16 When, therefore, it is departed from the man in whom it

dwelt; that man becomes destitute of the Holy Spirit, and is afterwards filled with wicked spirits,  [note: In the Greek of Athanasius follow these words, omitted in the Lat. Vers. of Hermas: "And is unstable in all his doings, being drawn hither and thither by wicked men."] and is blinded with evil thoughts. Thus doth it happen to all angry men.

17 Wherefore depart thou from anger and put on equanimity, and resist wrath; so thou shalt be  [note: In the Greek of Athanasius it runs better thus, "Applauded with reverence by those who are beloved of God."] found with modesty and chastity by God. Take good heed therefore that thou neglect not this commandment.

18 For if thou shalt obey this command, then shalt thou also be able to observe the other commandments, which I shall command thee.

19 Wherefore strengthen thyself now in these commands, that thou mayest live unto God. And whosoever shall observe these commandments shall live unto God.