The closing sentences contain this blessing:  “Now God, who is the Lord of all the world, give to you wisdom, skill, understanding, knowledge of his judgments, with patience.  And be ye taught of God; seeking what the Lord requires of you, and do it, that ye may be saved in the day of judgment....  The Lord of glory and of all grace be with your spirit.  Amen.”

* * * * *

The shepherd of Hermas.

This work, which derives its title from the circumstance of an angelic teacher being represented as a shepherd, is now considered by many to have been the production of Hermas, a brother of Pius, Bishop of Rome[24] though others are persuaded that the work is of a much earlier date[25].  The author speaks of guardian angels and of evil angels, and he speaks much of prayer; but not the faintest hint shows itself throughout the three books, of which the work consists, that he had {77} any idea of prayer being addressed to any created being, whether saint or angel.  On the evidence of this writer I will not detain you much longer than by the translation of a passage as it is found in the Greek quotation from Hermas, made by Antiochus (Homil. 85), on a point the most nearly, of all that I can find, connected with the immediate subject of our inquiry.  The Latin is found in the second book, ninth mandate.  It contains sound spiritual advice, of universal application.

    [Footnote 24:  Ecclesiastical writers refer the appointment of
    Pius, as Bishop of Rome, to the year 153.]

    [Footnote 25:  Archbishop Wake thinks it not improbable that this
    book was written by the same Hermas, of whom mention is made by
    St. Paul.]

“Let us then remove from us double-heartedness and faint-heartedness, and never at all doubt of supplicating any thing from God; saying within ourselves, ’How can I, who have been guilty of so many sins against Him, ask of the Lord and receive?’ But with thine whole heart turn to the Lord, and ask of Him without doubting; and thou shalt know his great mercy, that He will not forsake thee, but will fulfil the desire of thy soul.  For God is not as men are, a rememberer of evil, but is Himself one who remembers not evil, and is moved with compassion towards his creature.  Do thou, therefore, cleanse thy heart of doubt, and ask of Him, and thou shalt receive thy request.  But when thou doubtest, thou shalt not receive.  For they who doubt towards God are the double-hearted, and shall receive nothing whatever of their desires.  For those who are whole in the faith, ask every thing, trusting in the Lord, and they receive because they ask nothing doubting. [See St. James i. 6.] And if thou shouldest be tardy in receiving, do not doubt in thy mind because thou dost not receive soon the request of thy soul.