Shepherd of Hermas 45

1I say to him, "Lord, listen to a few words from me." He says, "Speak what you wish."

2"A person," I say, "Lord, is eager to keep the commandments of God, and there is no one who does not ask from the Lord to be strengthened in his commandments and to be subject to them; but the devil is harsh and tyrannizes them."

3"He is not able," he says, "to tyrannize the servants of God—those who hope in him with their whole heart. The devil can wrestle against them, but he cannot overcome them. If, therefore, you resist him, defeated he will flee from you, disgraced. But those who are empty," he says, "are afraid of the devil as though he had power.

4"When a man fills very many clay jars with good wine, and among those jars a few are empty, he comes to the jars and does not inspect the full ones—for he knows they are full—but he inspects the empty ones, fearing lest they have turned sour; for empty jars quickly turn sour, and the pleasure of the wine is lost.

5"So also the devil comes upon all the servants of God, testing them. Therefore, as many as are full in faith have strongly resisted him, and he withdraws from them, having no place where he may enter. He comes then to the empty ones; and having a place, he enters into them, and he does in them what he wishes, and they become enslaved to him."