The Shepherd of Hermas
Parable 7

After a few days I saw him on the same plain, where also I had seen
the shepherds, and he saith to me, "What seekest thou?" "I am here,
Sir," say I, "that thou mayest bid the shepherd that punisheth go out
of my house; for he afflicteth me much." "It is necessary for thee,"
saith he, "to be afflicted; for so," saith he, "the glorious angel
ordered as concerning thee, for he wisheth thee to be proved." "Why,
what so evil thing have I done, Sir," say I, "that I should be
delivered over to this angel?"

"Listen," saith he. "Thy sins are many, yet not so many that thou
shouldest be delivered over to this angel; but thy house has
committed great iniquities and sins, and the glorious angel was
embittered at their deeds, and for this cause he bade thee be
afflicted for a certain time, that they also might repent and cleanse
themselves from every lust of this world. When therefore they shall
repent and be cleansed, then shall the angel of punishment depart."

I say to him; "Sir, if they perpetrated such deeds that the glorious
angel is embittered, what have I done?" "They cannot be afflicted
otherwise," saith he, "unless thou, the head of the [whole] house, be
afflicted; for if thou be afflicted, they also of necessity will be
afflicted; but if thou be prosperous, they can suffer no affliction."

"But behold, Sir," say I, "they have repented with their whole
heart." "I am quite aware myself," saith he, "that they have
repented with their whole heart; well, thinkest thou that the sins of
those who repent are forgiven forthwith? Certainly not; but the
person who repents must torture his own soul, and must be thoroughly
humble in his every action, and be afflicted with all the divers
kinds of affliction; and if he endure the afflictions which come upon
him, assuredly He Who created all things and endowed them with power
will be moved with compassion and will bestow some remedy.

And this (will God do), if in any way He perceive the heart of the
penitent pure from every evil thing. But it is expedient for thee
and for thy house that thou shouldest be afflicted now. But why
speak I many words to thee? Thou must be afflicted as the angel of
the Lord commanded, even he that delivered thee unto me; and for this
give thanks to the Lord, in that He deemed thee worthy that I should
reveal unto thee beforehand the affliction, that foreknowing it thou
might endure it with fortitude."

I say to him; "Sir, be thou with me, and I shall be able to endure
all affliction [easily]." "I will be with thee," saith he; "and I
will ask the angel that punisheth to afflict thee more lightly; but
thou shalt be afflicted for a short time, and thou shalt be restored
again to thy house. Only continue to be humble and to minister unto
the Lord with a pure heart, thou and thy children and thy house, and
walk in my commandments which I command thee, and thus it will be
possible for thy repentance to be strong and pure.

And if thou keep these commandments with thy household, all
affliction shall hold aloof from thee; yea, and affliction," saith
he, "shall hold aloof from all whosoever shall walk in these my
commandments."
"1[67]"