Apocryphal New Testament — Historical English Collection

Apocryphal New Testament — Hone/Wake/Jones — Section 61

' Angel. • Ascent. 247 Oj the mysteries III. HERMAS. of the church some of the herbs, when the sun grew hot, were dry. 7 The fifth mountain was very rugged ; but yet had green herbs. The sixth mountain was full of clefts, some lesser, and some greater ; and in these clefts grew grass, not flourishing, but which seemed to be withering. 8 The seventh mountain had delightful pasture, and was wholly fruitful ; and all kinds of cattle, and of the birds of heaven, fed upon it ; and the more they fed of it, the more and better did the grass grow. 9 The eighth mountain was full of fountains, and from those fountains were watered all kinds of the creatures of God. The ninth mountain had no water at all, but was wholly destitute of it; and nourished deadly ser- pents, and destructive to men. 10 The tenth mountain was full of tall trees, and altogether shady : and under the shade of them lay cattle resting and chew- ing the cud. 11 The eleventh mountain was full of the thickest trees ; and those trees seemed to be loaded with several sorts of fruits ; that whosoever saw them could not choose but desire to eat of their fruit. 12 The twelfth mountain was altogether white, and of a most pleasant aspect, and itself gave a most excellent beauty to itself. 13 Tf In the middle of the * plain he showed me a huge white rock, which rose out of the plain, and the rock was higher than those mountains, and was square ; so that it seemed capable 01 supporting the whole world. 14 It looked to me to be old, yet it had in it a new gate, which seemed to have been newly hewn out in it. Now that gate was bright beyond the sun itself; in- somuch, that I greatly admired at its light. 15 About the gate stood twelve virgins ; of which four that stood at the corners of the gate, seemed to me to be the chiefest, although the rest were also of worth : and they stood at the four parts of the gate.