The Shepherd of Hermas

But you shall say to Maximus: Behold, persecution is coming, if it seems good to you deny the faith again, The Lord is near those that turn to him, as it is written in the Book of Eldad and Modat,[*](This book is mentioned among the Apocrypha of the N.T. in the Athanasian Synopsis and in the Stichometry of Nicephorus, but is not extant. It is thought to be quoted in II Clem. xi. 2. Eldad and Modat are mentioned in Numbers xi. 26.) who prophesied to the people in the wilderness.

And a revelation was made to me, brethren.[*](The revelation as to the ancient lady) while I slept, by a very beautiful young man who said to me, Who do you think that the ancient lady was from whom you received the little book? I said, The Sibyl. You are wrong, he said, she is not. Who is she, then? I said. The Church, he said. I said to him, Why then is she old? Because, he said, she was created the first of all things. For this reason is she old; and for her sake was the world established.

And afterwards I saw a vision in my house. The ancient[*](The ancient lady returns) lady came and asked me if I had already given the book to the elders. I said that I had not given it. You have done well, she said, for I have words to add. When, therefore, I have finished all the words they shall be made known by you to all the elect.

You shall therefore write two little books and send one to Clement and one to Grapte. Clement then shall send it to the cities abroad, for that is his duty; and Grapte shall exhort the widows and orphans; but in this city you shall read it yourself with the elders who are in charge of the church.

The third vision which I saw, brethren, was as[*](The ancient lady comes again) follows:

I had fasted for a long time, and prayed

I asked her, saying, Lady, to what part of the field? Where you like, she said. I chose a beautiful secluded spot; but before I spoke to her and mentioned the place she said to me, I will be there, where you wish.

I went, therefore, brethren, to the country, and I counted the hours, and I came to the spot where I had arranged for her to come, and I saw a couch of ivory[*](The couch of ivory) placed there, and on the couch there lay a linen pillow, and over it a covering of fine linen was spread out.

When I saw these things lying there, and no one in the place I was greatly amazed, and, as it were, trembling seized me and my hair stood on end. And, as it were, panic came to me because I was alone. When therefore I came to myself, and remembered the glory of God and took courage, I knelt down and confessed my sins again to the Lord, as I had also done before.

And she came with[*](The six young men) six young men, whom I had also seen on the former occasion, and stood by me, and listened to me praying and confessing my sins to the Lord. And