Shepherd of Hermas 3

1But it is not for this that God is angry with you, but so that you may turn back your household, which has sinned against the Lord and against us, their parents. Yet, being fond of your children, you did not admonish your household, but you let it be grievously ruined; for this the Lord is angry with you. But he will heal all the past evils in your household; for because of their sins and lawless deeds you yourself were ruined by worldly affairs.

2But the Lord’s abundant compassion has had mercy on you and your household, and he will strengthen you and establish you in his glory. Only do not be slothful, but take heart and strengthen your household. For, as the blacksmith hammering his work masters the thing he intends, so also the righteous word spoken daily prevails over every wickedness. Do not, therefore, cease admonishing your children; for I know that if they repent with their whole heart, they will be written in the books of life with the holy ones.

3After she had stopped these words, she says to me, “Do you wish to hear me reading?” And I say, “I do, Lady.” She says to me, “Become a hearer, and hear the glories of God.” I heard great and wondrous things which I was not able to remember; for all the words were terrifying—things a human being is not able to bear. So I remembered the last words, for they were beneficial and gentle for us:

4“Behold, the God of hosts, who by his invisible and mighty power and by his great understanding created the world, and by his glorious counsel adorned his creation with beauty, and by his mighty word fixed the heaven and founded the earth upon the waters, and by his own wisdom and providence created his holy church, which also he blessed—behold, he is moving the heavens and the mountains and the hills and the seas, and all things become level for his elect, in order that he may give to them the promise which he promised with much glory and joy, if they keep the statutes of God which they received with great faith.”