Apocryphal New Testament — Historical English Collection

Apocryphal New Testament — Hone/Wake/Jones — Section 45

16 Again we went a little far- ther forward ; and he showed me a great * shepherd, who had as it were a rustic figure, clad with a white goat's skin, having his bag upon his shoulder, and in his hand a stick full of knots, and very hard, and a whip in his other hand ; and his countenance was stern and sour ; enough to af- fright a man ; such was his look. 17 He took from that young shepherd such sheep as lived in pleasures, but did not skip up and down ; and drove them into a certain steep craggy place full of thorns and briars, insomuch that they could not get them- selves free from them. 18 But being entangled in them, fed upon thorns and briars, and were grievously tormented with his whipping. For he still drove them on, and afforded them not any place or time to stand still. 19 1[ When therefore I saw them so cruelly whipped and afflicted, I was grieved for them ; because they were greatly tor- mented, nor had they any rest afforded them. 20 And I said unto the shep- herd that was with me; Sir, who is this cruel and implacable shepherd, who is moved with no compassion towards these sheep? He answered, ^ This shepherd is indeed one of the ^ holy angels, but is appointed for the punish- ment of sinners. 21 To him therefore are deli- vered those who have erred from God, and served the lusts and pleasures of this world. For this cause he punishes them every one according to their deserts, with cruel and various kinds of pains. 22 Sir, said I, I would know, what kind of pains they are which every one undergoes ? Hearken, said he ; The several pains and torments are those which men every day undergo in their present lives. For some suffer losses ; others poverty ; others divers sicknesses. Some are unsettled ; others suffer in- juries from those that are un- worthy ; others fall under many other trials and inconveniences. 23 For many with an unsettled design aim at many things, and it