The Shepherd of Hermas

Hermas

Hermas. The Apostolic Fathers with an English translation by Kirsopp Lake. In Two Volumes. Vol. II. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd. 1913

He said to me, Put away from yourself every[*](Desire) evil desire, but put on the desire which is good and holy; for by putting on this desire you will hate the wicked desire, and will curb it as you will.

For the wicked desire is cruel and hard to tame, for it is fearful, and destroys men greatly in its cruelty, but

especially if a servant of God fall into it, and be not prudent, he is terribly destroyed by it. But it destroys such as have not the good desire as a covering, but are mixed with this world; these then it delivers to death.

What, sir, said I, are the deeds of the wicked desire, which deliver men to death? Let me know that I may refrain from them. Listen, said he, by what deeds the evil desire brings to death the servants of God.

Before all is desire for the wife or husband of[*](Carnal desires) another, and of extravagance of wealth, and much needless food and drink, and many other foolish luxuries. For all luxury is foolish and vain for the servants of God.

These desires then are wicked, and bring the servants of God to death, for this desire is the wicked daughter of the devil. It is necessary therefore, to refrain from the wicked desires, that by refraining you may live to God.

But as many as are overcome by them, and do not resist them, shall perish finally, for these desires are deadly.

But put on the desire of righteousness, and resist them, being armed with the fear of the Lord. For the fear of God dwells in the desire which is good. If the evil desire see you armed

with the fear of God, and resisting it, it will flee far from you and will no longer be seen by you, for fear of your weapons.