Shepherd of Hermas — Vision 4, Chapter 1
A Beast in the Road, and He Walked Through It
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Vision 4.1.1Brothers and sisters, this is the vision I saw twenty days after the preceding vision had occurred, as a figure of the coming affliction.
Vision 4.1.2I was going to a field along the Campanian Way. It is about ten stadia from the public road, and the place is easily reached on foot.
Vision 4.1.3As I walked alone, I asked the Lord to complete the revelations and visions He had shown me through His holy Church, to strengthen me and grant repentance to His servants who had stumbled, so that His great and glorious name might be glorified, because He had considered me worthy to see His wonders.
Vision 4.1.4While I was glorifying Him and giving Him thanks, something like the sound of a voice answered me: “Do not be double-minded, Hermas.” I began to reflect within myself and say, “Why should I be double-minded, when the Lord has so firmly established me and I have seen glorious things?”
Vision 4.1.5I went a little farther, brothers and sisters, and behold, I saw a cloud of dust rising as high as heaven. I began to say to myself, “Perhaps livestock are coming and raising dust?” It was about a stadion away from me.
Vision 4.1.6As the cloud of dust grew larger and larger, I suspected something divine. The sun shone out a little, and behold, I saw an enormous beast, like some sea monster, and fiery locusts were coming out of its mouth. The beast was about a hundred feet long, and its head was like an earthenware vessel.
Vision 4.1.7I began to weep and entreat the Lord to deliver me from it. Then I remembered the word I had heard: “Do not be double-minded, Hermas.”
Vision 4.1.8So, brothers and sisters, I clothed myself with faith in the Lord, remembered the mighty things He had taught me, took courage, and gave myself over to the beast. The beast came with such a rushing noise that it could have devastated a city.
Vision 4.1.9I drew near to it, and that enormous monster stretched itself out on the ground. It did nothing except put out its tongue, and it did not move at all until I had passed it.
Vision 4.1.10The beast had four colors on its head: black, then fiery and blood-red, then gold, then white.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.