heaven were feeding on the grass on this mountain, and the grass on which they pastured
became more abundant, were the following: they were always simple, and harmless, and
blessed, bringing no charges against one another, but always rejoicing greatly because of
the servants of God, and being clothed with the holy spirit of these virgins, and always
having pity on every man, and giving aid from their own labour to every man, without re-
proach and without hesitation.385 The Lord, therefore, seeing their simplicity and all their
meekness, multiplied them amid the labours of their hands, and gave them grace in all their
doings. And I, the angel of repentance, say to you who are such, Continue to be such as
these, and your seed will never be blotted out; for the Lord has made trial of you, and in-
scribed you in the number of us, and the whole of your seed will dwell with the Son of God;
for ye have received of His Spirit.”
Chap. XXV.
“And they who believed from the eighth mountain, where were the many fountains,
and where all the creatures of God drank of the fountains, were the following: apostles, and
teachers, who preached to the whole world, and who taught solemnly and purely the word
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of the Lord, and did not at all fall into evil desires, but walked always in righteousness and
truth, according as they had received the Holy Spirit. Such persons, therefore, shall enter in
with the angels.”386
Chap. XXVI.
“And they who believed from the ninth mountain, which was deserted, and had in it
creeping things and wild beasts which destroy men, were the following: they who had the
stains as servants,387 who discharged their duty ill, and who plundered widows and orphans
of their livelihood, and gained possessions for themselves from the ministry, which they
had received.388 If, therefore, they remain under the dominion of the same desire, they are
dead, and there is no hope of life for them; but if they repent, and finish their ministry in a
holy manner, they shall be able to live. And they who were covered with scabs are those who
have denied their Lord, and have not returned to Him again; but becoming withered and
desert-like, and not cleaving to the servants of God, but living in solitude, they destroy their
own souls. For as a vine, when left within an enclosure, and meeting with neglect, is destroyed,
and is made desolate by the weeds, and in time grows wild, and is no longer of any use to
its master, so also are such men as have given themselves up, and become useless to their
385 Ecclus. xx. 15, xli. 22; Jas. i. 5.
386 Cf. Donaldson’s Hist. of Christ. Lit., vol. i. p. 291. [This beautiful chapter, and its parable of the fountains
of living water, may well be read with that passage of Leighton which delighted Coleridge: Com. on 1 Pet. i.
10–12.]
387 διάκονοι. [Deacons, evidently, or stewards. Acts vi. 1]
388 [Ezek. xxxiv. 3.]
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Similitude Ninth. The Great Mysteries in the Building of the Militant…