Shepherd of Hermas — Vision 4, Chapter 2
A Virgin Adorned as from the Bridal Chamber
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Vision 4.2.1After I had passed the beast and gone forward about thirty feet, behold, a virgin met me, adorned as though coming from a bridal chamber. She was entirely in white, with white shoes, veiled as far as her forehead; her covering was a headdress. Her hair was white.
Vision 4.2.2I knew from the earlier visions that she was the Church, and I became more cheerful. She greeted me, saying, “Greetings, human being!” I returned her greeting: “Greetings, lady!”
Vision 4.2.3She answered me, “Did nothing meet you?” I said to her, “Lady, a beast so enormous that it could destroy whole peoples! But through the Lord’s power and His great compassion I escaped it.”
Vision 4.2.4“You escaped well,” she said, “because you cast your care upon God and opened your heart toward the Lord, believing that you could be saved through nothing except the great and glorious Name. For this reason the Lord sent His angel who is over the beasts, whose name is Thegri, and shut its mouth so that it would not harm you. You have escaped a great affliction through your faith and because, though you saw such an enormous beast, you did not become double-minded.
Vision 4.2.5“Go, therefore, explain His mighty works to the Lord’s chosen ones, and tell them that this beast is a figure of the great affliction to come. If you prepare yourselves beforehand and repent toward the Lord with your whole heart, you will be able to escape it, if your heart becomes pure and blameless and you serve the Lord without reproach for the remaining days of your life. Cast your cares upon the Lord, and He will set them right.
Vision 4.2.6“Believe the Lord, you double-minded people, because He can do everything: He turns His anger away from you, and He sends scourges upon you who are double-minded. Woe to those who hear these words and disobey! It would have been preferable for them not to have been born.”
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.