deed, repented.212 Both actions grieve the Spirit: doubt, because it did not accomplish its object; and anger grieves the Spirit, because it did what was wicked. Both these are grievous to the Holy Spirit—doubt and anger. Wherefore remove grief from you, and crush not the Holy Spirit which dwells in you, lest he entreat God213 against you, and he withdraw from you. For the Spirit of God which has been granted to us to dwell in this body does not endure grief nor straitness. Wherefore put on cheerfulness, which always is agreeable and acceptable to God,214 and rejoice in it. For every cheerful man does what is good, and minds what is good, and despises grief;215 but the sorrowful man always acts wickedly. First, he acts wickedly because he grieves the Holy Spirit, which was given to man a cheerful Spirit. Secondly, grieving the Holy Spirit,216 he works iniquity, neither entreating the Lord nor confessing217 to Him. For the entreaty of the sorrowful man has no power to ascend to the altar of God.” “Why,” say I, “does not the entreaty of the grieved man ascend to the altar?” “Because,” says he, “grief sits in his heart. Grief, then, mingled with his entreaty, does not permit the entreaty to ascend pure to the altar of God. For as vinegar and wine, when mixed in the same vessel, do not give the same pleasure [as wine alone gives], so grief mixed with the Holy Spirit does not produce the same entreaty [as would be produced by the Holy Spirit alone]. Cleanse yourself from this wicked grief, and you will live to God; and all will live to God who drive away grief from them, and put on all cheerfulness.”218 212 This … repented, omitted in Vat. [2 Cor. vii. 10. Compare this Commandment in Wake’s translation and notes.] 213 God. The Lord.—Vat., Æth. 214 God. The Lord.—Vat. 215 Grief. Injustice.—Vat. 216 [Eph. iv. 30.] 217 ἐξομολογοὑμενος one would expect here to mean “giving thanks,” a meaning which it has in the New Testament: but as ἐξομολογοῦμαι means to “confess” throughout the Pastor of Hermas, it is likely that it means “confessing” here also. 218 [Matt. vi. 16, 17: Is. lviii. 5; 2 Cor. vi. 10; John xvi. 33; Rom. xii. 8.] 53 Commandment Tenth. Of Grief, and Not Grieving the Spirit of God Which…