THE THREE BOOKS OF Hermas the Disciple of PAVL the Apostle Viz. I. The Church II. The Sheepherd III. The Similitudes Englished by John Pringle LONDON Printed for John White in Thread-needle Street behinde the Old Exchange 1661. The first Book of Hermas the Disciple of Paul which is intituled the CHURCH VISION I. HE who had brought me up sold a certain Girle at Rome but after many years her being seen I again knew and I began to love her as my sister but some time being finished I saw her washed in the River Tyber And I stretched out my hand to her and led her out of the River and having seen her I thought in my heart saying Happy should I be if I could obtain such a Wife both in beauty and manners This only nor any thing else did I think 2 But after some time passing on with these cogitations I honoured the Creature of God thinking how excellent and beautiful it is And when I had walked I fell asleep And the Spirit caught me and carried me by a certain place at the right hand by which man could not travel But the place was among the Rocks and craggy and impassable by reason of waters And when I had past over that place I came into a plain and my knees being bowed I began to pray unto the Lord and to confesse my sins 3 And while I prayed the Heaven opened and I see the woman whom I had desired saluting me from Heaven and saying Hail Hermas And I looking upon her say unto her Lady what dost thou here But she answered unto me I am received hither that I may reprove thy sinnes before the Lord. Lady said I wilt thou reprove me No saith she but hear the words which I am about to say unto thee 4 God who dwelleth in the Heavens and made out of nothing the things that are and multiplied them for his holy Church is angry with thee because thou hast offended against me I answering say unto her Lady if against thee I have offended where or in what place or when did I speak to thee any unseemly word Have I not alwayes esteemed thee as my Mistresse Have I not alwayes respected thee as my Sister Why dost thou imagine those so hainous crimes against me 5 Then she smiling on me saith The concupiscence of wickedness hath arisen in thine heart seems it not to thee to be an unjust thing to a just man if evil concupiscence should arise in his heart It is a sin to him and indeed a great one for a just man thinks just things therefore he thinking the things that are just and he rightly proceeding in the Heavens he shall have the Lord favourable in every businesse of his but who so think wicked things in their hearts death and captivity do they chuse to themselves chiefly they who love this world and glory in their riches and who expect not the good things to come their souls are emptied But these things the doubtful ones do who have not hope in the Lord and despise and neglect their LIFE but pray thou to the Lord and he will heal the sins of thee and of thy whole house and of all the Saints 6 But after she had spoken these words the Heavens were shut and I was altogether in sorrow and fear and said within me If this be imputed sin unto me how shall I be able to be saved or how shall I entreat the Lord for my most abundant sins with what words shall I beseech the Lord that he may be merciful to me 7 These things I revolving and discerning in my heart I see against me a great chair made of wools white as the snow and an old Woman came in a shining Vesture having a book in her hand and she sat alone and saluted me Hail Hermas And I sad and weeping said Hail Lady And she said unto me Why art thou sad Hermas who wast patient and modest and alwayes cheerful I answering say unto her Lady a reproach is cast upon me by an excellent woman saying that I have offended against her But she saith unto me Far be that thing from a servant of God but perhaps the concupisence of her hath arisen in thine heart There is indeed in the Servants of God such a thought bringing in sin for this abominable thought ought not to be in the servant of God nor a proved spirit to covet an evil work and especially Hermas who containeth from all wicked concupisence and is full of all simplicity and great innocency However not because of thee is the Lord angry but for thine house which hath committed-a wickednesse against the Lord and against their Parents And thou seeing thou art a lover of thy sons hast not stir'd up thine house but hast let them passe to be conversant violently for because of this is the Lord angry with thee But he will heal all the evils which are acted against thee in thine house for because of their sins and iniquities thou art consumed through worldly employments for now the loving kindness of God hath pitied thee and thine house and hath preserved thee in GLORY Onely do not thou WANDER but be patient in mind and strengthen thine house Even as a worker in brass producing his work exposeth them to him to whom he will so also thou teaching the daily just word wilt cut off great sin Cease not therefore to admonish thy sons for the Lord knows that they will act repentance from their whole heart and he shall write thee in THE BOOK OF LIFE 9 And when she had finished these words she saith to me Wilt thou hear me reading I say unto her Lady I will Be thou then an hearer And turning over the book she read gloriously and excellently and wonderfully which I was not able to retain in memory for they were terrifying words which man was not able to sustain Yet the last words I commended to memory for they were few and profitable for us 10 Behold the God of powers who by his invisible power and great knowledge hath built the World and by his honourable Council compassed about his Creature with comliness and by his most strong WORD fixed the Heaven and founded the Earth upon the waters and by his powerfull vertue hath built his holy CHURCH which he hath blessed Behold he will remove the Heavens and Mountains Little hills and Seas and all shall be full with his chosen ones that he may render unto them the promise which he re-promised with much honour and joy if they shall keep the statutes of God which they received in great faith 11 And when she had finished in reading she arose from the chair and four young men came and took up likewise the chair to the EAST And she called me to her and touched my breast and saith unto me did my reading please thee I say unto her Lady these last pleased me but the former are cruel and hard but she saith unto me these
of the Tower shall be finished 18 I asked her saying I would know the event of the stones and the force of them what it is but she answering said to me art thou better before all that that may be revealed to thee for others are before thee and better then thee to whom it behoved these visions to be revealed but that the Name of God may be honoured to thee it is revealed and shall be revealed because of the doubtful ones who think in their hearts whether these things be or be not say unto them that all these things are true and nothing is out of the truth but all are firm and are surely grounded 19 Hear now also of the stones that are in the structure indeed these four-corner'd-stones and white agreeing in their commixtures these are the APOSTLES and Overseers and Teachers and MINISTERS who have entred in in the clemency of God and ruled their charge and taught and ministred holily and modestly to the elect of God who have slept and who as yet are and have alwaies agreed with them and had peace in themselves and have heard themselves mutually for this also into the structure of the Tower do their commixtures agree 20 But these who are drawn out of the deep and placed into the structure and their commixtures agree with the rest of the stones which are already builded are these who already have fallen asleep and have suffered for the cause of the Name of the Lord. 21 But the rest of the stones that were brought from the earth I would know who they are Lady she saith Those indeed who go in the earth and are not polished those God hath proved because they have entred in into the Righteousnesse of the Lord and have directed their wayes in his Commandments 22 But these that are brought and are put in the structure of the Tower these are the young ones in the faith and the faithful but they are commonished by the Angels to do good for that cause there is not wickednesse found in them 23 But those whom they did reject and placed beside the Tower who are they These are they who have sinned and would do repentance for this they are not cast out far from the Tower because they shall be profitable in the structure if they shall act Repentance They therefore that are about to act Repentance if they shall do Repentance they shall be strong in the faith if now they shall act Repentance while the Tower is a building For if the structure shall be finished now any shall not have a place where he may be put but he shall be a reprobate but he onely shall have this who already is placed beside the Tower 24 But these that were hewed and thrown far from the Tower wilt thou know who they are These are the SONS OF INIQUITY and they have believed in dissimulation and all wickednesse hath not departed from them for this they have not Salvation because they are not profitable in the structure by reason of their wickednesses Wherefore they are hewn and thrown far away because of the anger of the Lord because they have stired him up 25 But the rest of the stones whom thou didst see very many placed not going into the structure these indeed were rugged These are they who have known the Truth and have neither remained in it nor have been joyned to the Saints for this cause they are unprofitable 26 But these that had rents because they have discord in their hearts one against another and have not peace among themselves In presence indeed having peace but when one shall go away from another their wickednesse remains in their hearts These therefore are the rents which the stones have 27 But those that are maimed are they who indeed believed having the most part of iniquity for this cause they are broken and not intire 28 But the white and round and not agreeing into the structure of the Tower who are they Lady She answering to me said How long hitherto art thou foolish and senselesse and ask est all things and understandest nothing These are they that have indeed faith but having also the riches of this world Therefore when tribulation shall come for their riches and negotiations they deny the Lord. 29 I answering say to her Lady when therefore shall they be profitable to the Lord when their riches quoth she shall be circumcised which delight them then shall they be profitable to the Lord unto the building For as a round stone unless it shall be hewn and cast off somewhat from it cannot be made four-corner'd so also they that are rich in this world unlesse their riches shall be circumcised they cannot be profitable to the Lord. 30 From thee first know it when thou wast rich thou wast unprofitable but now thou art profitable and fit for thy LIFE for also thou thy self wast of these stones 31 But the rest of the stones which thou didst see cast far from the Tower and running in the way and to be rolled from the way into desert places these are they who have indeed believed but with their doubting have left their own true WAY thinking themselves to be able to find a better way but they wander and are miserable entering into desert wayes 32 But these that fell into the fire and did burn are they who for ever have departed from the Living God nor doth it any more ascend into their hearts to act repentance because of the desire of their lusts and wickednesses which they work 33 But the rest which fell besides the waters and could not be rolled into the waters who are these These are they who have heard the WORD willing to be baptized in the NAME of the Lord to whom when the Sanctity of the TRUTH came into their memory they draw back themselves and do again walk after their wicked desires 34 Therefore she finished the narration of the Tower but I seeing I was obstinate asked her Whether to all these stones which were thrown away nor did agree into the structure of the Tower is there Repentance and shall they have a place in this Tower They have quoth she Repentance but in this Tower they cannot agree fitly 35 But they shall be put in another place much inferiour to this when they shall have been vexed and have fulfilled the dayes of their transgressions and for this shall they be taken up because they have received THE JUST WORD and then shall it befall them to be released from their punishments if the wicked works which they have wrought shall ascend up into their hearts but if they shall not ascend into their hearts they shall not be saved because of the hardness of their hearts 36 When therefore I left off to ask her of all these things she saith to me wilt thou see another and seeing I was desirous to see I became chearful in countenance she looking back on me smiled and saith to me Seest
latter to the Just but the former to the fugitives and Heathens And whilest she was speaking with me two certain men appeared and took her up upon their shoulders and went away whither also the chair was towards the EAST but she departed cheerfull and when she was to go away she saith to me Be comforted Hermas VISION II. 1 BUt whilest I went on with these thoughts about that time wherein also the year before walking I called to memory the former years Vision And again the Spirit took me away and led me into the same place wherein the first year I was and I honoured his Name because he should esteem me worthy and should manifest unto me my old sins and when I had arisen from prayer I see over against me that old woman whom also the former year I had seen walking and reading some certain Book And she saith to me canst thou rehearse these things to the chosen ones of God I say unto her Lady such great words I cannot retain in memory but give me the Book and I will write it down Take it saith she and restore it unto me 2 But as soon as I had gotten it going aside into a certain place of the field I wrote down all to a letter for I found not Syllabs And when I had finished the writing of the book suddenly from my hand the Book was snached but by whom I saw not But after fifteen dayes when I had fasted and had much entreated the Lord the knowledge of the writing was revealed to me But the Writing was this 3 Thy SEED Hermas hath trespast against the Lord and have betrayed their Parents in great wickedness And the betrayers of Parents have heard and the subtile have gone on But also now they have added to their sins lusts and the defilements of wickedness And so have they filled up their iniquities But hasten thou these words to all thy Sons and to thy Wife who is to be thy Sister And she therefore may bridle her tongue wherein she curseth And these words being heard she shall contain herself and shall obtain mercy for she shall be instructed after that thou shalt have imparted unto her these words which that RVLER Commanded that they should be revealed to thee 4 Then shall the sins be remitted to them which long ago they sinned and to all the Saints who have sinned untill this very day if from their whole heart they shall act repentance and take away doubtings from their hearts for that RULER hath sworn by his glory upon his chosen ones that day being finished also now if any one shall sin that he shall not have Salvation for the repentances of the just have ends The dayes of repentance are fulfilled to all the Saints but to the Gentiles repentance until in the last day 5 Thou shalt therefore speak unto them that are over the Church that they may direct their wayes in Righteousnesse that they may receive in full the REPROMISSION with much Glory Continue ye therefore who work righteousnesse and so do ye that your change may be with the holy Angels Happy ye whosoever sustain the great pressure coming upon you and whosoever shall not deny HIS OWNE LIFE For the Lord hath sworn by his Son he who shall deny his Son and himself promising themselves his LIFE they also are about to deny him in the dayes approaching but they who never denyed him through his exceeding great mercy is he become propitious to them 6 But thou Hermas do not thou remember the injuries of thy sons but neither mayst thou neglect thy Sister but take care that they be amended from their former sins for they shall be instructed by that Doctrine if now thou shalt not be mindful of their injury for the memory of injuries worketh death but the oblivion of them Life Eternal 7 But thou Hermas hast sustained great worldly Tribulations because of the overslippings of thy house because them thou hast neglected as pertaining nothing to thee and in thy malitious businesses hast been involved But that shall save thee that thou hast not departed from the living God and thy simplicity and singular continency they shall save thee if thou shalt continue and they shall save all whosoever work the like and enter in in innocency and simplicity 8 Those who are of this sort shall prevail against all wickedness and shall continue unto life eternal Happy are all they that work righteousnesse they shall not be taken away untill into life eternall But thou wilt say Behold great Tribulation cometh if it seem good to to thee again deny it NIGH IS THE LORD TO THOSE THAT TURN as it is written in HELDAM and MODAL who did Prophesie in the Wilderness to the people 9 But Brethren it was revealed to me sleeping by a comly youth and saying unto me that old Woman from whom thou hast got the Book whom thinkst thou to be And I said SYBILLA Thou errest quoth he she is not Who is she then Lord And he said to me She is the CHVRCH of GOD. And I said to him why therefore is she an old Woman Because quoth he of all she was first Created therefore an old Woman and for her was the World made 10 But after these I saw a Vision in mine house and that old Woman came and asked me if already I had given the Book to the Elders And I answered as yet not But she said Thou hast well done For I have certain words to command thee but when I shall finish all the words they shall be aptly known by the Elect Thou shalt therefore write two Books and thou shalt send one to CLEMENT and one to GRAPTE But Clement shall send it into forreign Citties for to him it is permitted but Grapte shall admonish the Widows and Orphanes But thou shalt read it in this City with the Elders that are over the Church VISION III. 1 THe Vision which I saw Brethren was such a Vision when I had frequently fasted and had prayed the Lord that to me he would show the Revelation which he promised to show by that old Woman That same night appeared that old Woman to me and said unto me 2 Because thou so languishest and art troubled to know all things come thou into the field where thou wilt and about the sixt hour I will manifest me to thee and I will show thee what things it behoveth thee to see I asked her saying Lady into what place of the field Where thou wilt quoth she choose out a good place secret But before I had begun to speak and to tell her the place she saith to me I will come where thou wilt 3 I was therefore Brethren in the field and I observed the hours and I came into the place where I had appointed to her to come and I see a seat set It was a linnen pillow and spread upon a linnen sheet seeing these set and none to be in the place I began to be
chastity remains in the heart of a just man there ought an evil cogitation never to arise 2 And I said to him Lord permit me to speak a few words with thee Speak saith he And I said to him Lord if any should have a Wife faithfull in the Lord and should find her in adultery doth the husband sin if he live together with her And he said to me 3 As long as he knoweth not her sin the Husband is without blame dwelling together with her But if the Husband shall know his Wife to have transgressed and the Wife shall not do Repentance and remains in her Fornication and the Husband live with her he shall be guilty of her sin partaker of her Adultery And I said to him What then if the Woman shall continue in her faults And he said Let the Husband send her away and let the Husband remain by himself but if he shall send away his Wife and shall marry another he also committeth Adultery 4 And I said to him What if the woman put away should do repentance and would be returned to her Husband shall she not be received by her Husband And he said to me Yea if her Husband shall not receive her he sinneth and admitteth a great sin to himself but he ought to receive her a sinner who hath done repenpentance But not often for to the servants of God the Repentance is one 5 Because of repentance therefore the Husband having put away his Wife ought not to marry another Here the act is alike both in the Husband and in the VVife not only is it adultery to them who pollute their own flesh but also she who maketh an Image commits Adultery But if in these deeds she persevere and do not repentance depart from her and do not live together with her otherwise also thou shalt be partaker of her sin 6 For this cause it is commanded you that ye remain single both the Husband and the VVife for there may be repentance in a deed of this sort but also I give not occasion that these be so done but that he who hath sinned sin no more but of his former sins God who hath the power of giving soundness shall give a remedy because it is he that hath power of all things 7 Again I asked and said because my Lord hath esteemed me to be worthy that thou shouldest dwell with me alwaies declare unto me a few words because I understand not any thing and my heart is stopped by my former conversation and open to me my sence because I am vehemently stupid and of the the whole I understand nothing 8 And answering he said unto me I am set over to repentance and to all that do repentance I give feeling Doth it not seem to thee to be great wisdome to do repentance because he that doth repentance obtaineth great feeling for he feels himself to have sinned and to have done wickedly in the sight of the Lord and he is remembred BY THE INTELLECT that he hath trespassed and he doth repentance and he worketh not wickedly any more but worketh well and humbleth his Soul and vexeth it because it hath sinned 9 Thou seest therefore that repentance is great SENSE And I said to him for this cause Lord I deligently inquire all things because I am a sinner that I may know what things I may work and may live because many are my sinns And he said unto me thou shalt live if thou thou shalt keep these my commandments and whosoever shall hear and do these commands shall LIVE TO GOD. 10 And I said to him even now Lord I have heard from certain DOCTORS that other repentance there is not except that when we descend into the water and receive the remission of our sinns after that not to sin but to remain in CHASTITY 11 And he saith to me Thou hast rightly heard but now because diligently thou askest all things also this I demonstrate to thee not giving occasion to them who are about to believe or who have believed the Lord. 12 For they who have already believed or who are about to believe the repentance of sins they have not but the remission For to those who were called before these dayes hath the Lord ordained repentantance because the cogitations of the heart God doth know and he knows the infirmity of men and the manifold wickednesse of the Devil with which he endevoureth some mischief to the servants of God and layes wait for them malitiously 13 Therefore the mercifull God hath had compassion of his handy-work And hath placed that repentance and the power of this repentance hath he given to ME And therefore I say to thee that after that calling great and holy if any one shall be tempted by the Devil and shall sin he hath one repentance But thenceforth if he sin and doth repentance it shall not be profitable to the man that doth such things for difficultly shall he LIVE TO GOD. 14. And I said Lord I have revived whenas so diligently I have heard these Commandments for I know that if after this I shall add nothing to my sins I shall be saved And he said safe I say and all whosoever shall do these commands shall be safe And again I said to him Lord because thou patiently hearest me demonstrate unto me this say it quoth he 15 If the Husband or Wife of any one shall depart and any of them shall marry what Doth he sin He that marrieth sinneth not quoth he but if he would remain by himself he acquireth great honour to himself with the Lord Keep therefore CHASTITY and modesty and thou shalt live to God These things that I speak with thee keep thou henceforth from the time wherein I was delivered to thee and dwell in thine house and there shall be remission to thy former sins if thou shalt keep my commandments But also to all there shall be remission who shall keep my commandments COMMAND V. 1 BE thou of a poysed mind quoth he and patient and thou shalt have dominion over all most wicked works and shalt work ALL righteousness Because if thou shalt be PATIENT THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT DWELLETH IN THEE shall be clean and shall not be obscured by any most wicked Spirit But rejoycing it shall be inlarged and shall feast in the VESSELL in which it inhabiteth and it shall obey the Lord chearful in great peace 2 But if any wrath should come over it immediately the holy Spirit which is IN THEE shall be straitened and shall seek to depart for it is suffocated by a most wicked fight and it hath not a place of obeying the Lord as it would for it is tribulated by ANGER Therefore both Spirits when they inhabit together it is pernitious to man 3 For if any one shall pluck up a little wormwood put it into a pot of honey shall not all the honey be destroyed And so much honey by a little wormwoode perisheh and looseth the
depart thou COMMAND XII 1 AGain he said to me remove from thee all evil DESIRE and put on the good and holy desire for having put on the good desire Thou shalt hate the evil and shalt refrain it even as thou wouldest For evil desire is to be abhored and it is difficultly mitigated it is very horrible and wild and with its wildnesse consumeth men especially if into it a servant of God shall fall and unlesse he shall be wise he shall be consumed by it badly 2 But it consumeth such who have not the cloathing of the good desire and it involves them in the businesses of this World and delivers them to death What are the works Lord quoth I of the evil desire which deliver men up to DEATH Demonstrate unto me that I may depart from them Hear saith he in what works evil desire delivers the servants of God to death The spirit of all men is earthly and light and hath not power at all and speaketh many things And I said how then can any know them 3 Hear quoth he of both the VESSELS and as I say to thee so shalt thou try the Prophet of God and the false prophet First so prove the man THAT HATH THE SPIRIT OF GOD because the spirit which is from above is quiet and humble and it departeth from ALL wickednesse and the vain desire of this World and maketh it self more humble then every man AND ANSWERETH TO NO MAM BEING ASKED nor doth it answer to all men NEITHER WHEN MAN WILL DOTH THE SPIRIT OF GOD SPEAK but then it speaketh when God will 4 Therefore WHEN A MAN WHO HATH THE SPIRIT OF GOD SHALL COME INTO THE CHURCH OF JUST MEN having the faith of God and prayer is made to God then THE holy MESSENGER OF the DIVINITY FILLETH THAT MAN WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HE SPEAKETH IN THE THRONG AS GOD WILL So therefore is the spirit of Divinity known in whomsoever the spirit of Divinity speaketh 5 Hear now also of the TERRESTRIALL SPIRIT empty and foolish not having power But first a man is conceived to have this spirit for he exalteth himself and WILL HAVE THE UPPERMOST CHAIR and he is wicked and talkative and converseth in delights and in many pleasures and TAKETH THE REWARD OF HIS DIVINATION WHICH IF HE SHALL NOT GET HE DOTH NOT DIVINE Can the Spirit of God take rewards thus and Divine it doth not beseem the Prophet of God to do these things 6 But EVIL DESIRE is to covet anothers wife or a woman to covet anothers husband and to covet the sumptuousnesse of riches and the multitude of superfluous meats and much drunkennesse and many pleasures for many delights are foolish and many pleasures are superfluous to the servants of God Therefore this evil desire is pernitious which deadneth the servants of God for this desire is of the Devil 7 Therefore whosoever shall depart from evil desire they shall LIVE TO GOD for whosoever shall be subjected to evil desire shall die for ever for this evil desire is mortiferous 8 Thou therefore put on the desire of righteousnesse and armed with the fear of the Lord resist the evil desire for fear dwelleth in the good desire and the evil desire when it shall see thee armed with the fear of the Lord resisting it it shall flie far from thee and shall not appear before thee fearing thy weapons and thou shalt obtain the victory and thou shalt be crowned because of her and attaining unto the good desire and thou shalt give the victory to God which thou hast gotten and shalt serve him in working as thou thy self wouldest 9 But if thou shalt serve the good desire and shalt be subject unto it thou shalt be able to rule over the evil desire and it shall be subjected to thee even as thou wouldest 10 I would know Lord how I ought to serve the GOOD DESIRE Hear quoth he have thou the fear of God and faith in God and love the Truth and love the Righteousnesse and do good These things working thou shalt be a proved servant of the Lord and shalt serve to God and all whosoever shall serve the Good desire shall LIVE TO GOD. 11 These twelve Commands being finished He said to me Thou hast these Commands walk in them and exhort the men that hear them that they do repentance and their repentance shall be made pure the rest of the dayes of their life And this Ministry which to thee I give unfold thou diligently and thou shalt attain much fruit and shalt find favour with all those who shall Act Repentance and shall believe thy words for I am with thee and will constrain them to believe 12 And I said to him Lord these commands are great and excellent and they are able to make glad the heart of that man who shall be able to keep these Commands But I know not Lord whether these Commandments can be kept by man He saith to me these commands thou shalt easily keep and they shall not be hard 13 But notwithstanding if thou shalt affirm in thine heart that they cannot be kept by man thou shalt not keep them But now I say unto thee if thou shalt not keep these Commandments and shalt omit them thou shalt not be saved nor thy sons nor thine house because thy self hast judged that these Commands cannot be kept by man 14 These things he spoke to me vehemently angry so that he terrified me greatly for he had changed his countenance so that man could not be able to sustain his wrath And when he had beheld me all disturbed and confounded he began to speak more moderately and chearfully saying 15 O Foolish and unsensible Inconstant and ignorant of the Majesty of God how great how admirable is it who hath Created the world for man and subjected every Creature to man and hath given him ALL POWER THAT HE MAY HAVE DOMINION OVER THESE COMMANDMENTS he can have Dominion quoth he over all these Commands WHO HATH THE LORD IN HIS HEART but they who have the Lord in their lips and their heart is benumbed these are far from the Lord to them these Commands are hard and difficult 16 Therefore propose unto your selves ye that are empty and light in the faith TO HAVE THE LORD YOUR GOD IN THE HEART And ye shall understand that nothing is more easie then these Commands nor more sweet nor more gentle nor more holy and convert you to the Lord God and forsake the Devil and his pleasures because they are evil and bitter and unclean and fear ye not the devil because in you he hath no power for I am with you the MESSENGER OF REPENTANCE who rule over him but the Devil causeth fear but the fear of him is vain Therefore do not ye fear him and he shall fly from you 17 And I said to him Lord hear me speaking a few words to thee Speak quoth he Man indeed desireth to keep the Commands of God and