{"author":null,"backreferences":[{"context_html":"<p class=\"c005\">And the angel of the Lord ordered crowns to be brought;<a id=\"r1736\"></a><a class=\"c009 pginternal\" href=\"#f1736\"><sup>[1736]</sup></a>\r\nand there were brought crowns, formed, as it were, of palms;\r\nand he crowned the men who had returned the branches\r\nwhich had offshoots and some fruit, and sent them away into\r\nthe tower. And the others also he sent into the tower, those,\r\nnamely, who had returned branches that were green and had\r\noffshoots but no fruit, having given them seals. And all who\r\nwent into the tower had the same clothing—white as snow.\r\nAnd those who returned their branches green, as they had\r\nreceived them, he set free, giving them clothing and seals.\r\nNow after the angel had finished these things, he said to the\r\nShepherd, “I am going away, and you will send these away\r\nwithin the walls, according as each one is worthy to have his\r\ndwelling. And examine their branches carefully, and so dismiss\r\nthem; but examine them with <i>care</i>. See that no one\r\n<span class=\"pageno\" id=\"Page_397\">397</span>escape you,” he added; “and if any escape you, I will try them\r\nat the altar.” Having said these words to the Shepherd, he\r\ndeparted. And after the angel had departed, the Shepherd\r\nsaid to me, “Let us take the branches of all these and plant\r\nthem, and see if any of them will live.” I said to him, “Sir,\r\nhow can these withered branches live?” He answered, and\r\nsaid, “This tree is a willow, and of a kind that is very tenacious\r\nof life. If, therefore, the branches be planted, and receive a\r\nlittle moisture, many of them will live. And now let us try,\r\nand pour water upon them; and if any of them live I shall\r\nrejoice with them, and if they do not I at least will not be found\r\nneglectful.” And the Shepherd bade me call them as each one\r\nwas placed. And they came, rank by rank, and gave their\r\nbranches to the Shepherd. And the Shepherd received the\r\nbranches, and planted them in rows; and after he had planted\r\nthem he poured much water upon them, so that the branches\r\ncould not be seen for the water; and after the branches had\r\ndrunk it in, he said to me, “Let us go, and return after a few\r\ndays, and inspect all the branches; for He who created this\r\ntree wishes all those to live who received branches from it.\r\nAnd I also hope that the greater part of these branches which\r\nreceived moisture and drank of the water will live.”</p>","headings":["The Writings of the Apostolic Fathers","THE PASTOR OF HERMAS.","BOOK THIRD.—SIMILITUDES. SIMILITUDES WHICH HE SPAKE WITH ME.","SIMILITUDE EIGHTH. The sins of the elect and of the penitent are of many kinds, but all will be rewarded according to the measure of their repentance and good works."],"marker_anchor":null,"paragraph_id":"pg77576-paragraph-733"}],"canonical_references":[],"date_end":null,"date_start":null,"deduplication_fingerprint":"d9ad5b230b16ff665255568eb882a183adcde1b9102df8f7961e2a51a06975af","edition_title":"The writings of the Apostolic Fathers","edition_translators":["Alexander Roberts","James Donaldson","Frederick Crombie"],"edition_year":1870,"explicit_reference_candidates":[],"headings":[],"id":"pg77576-f1736","license_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html","public_import_allowed":false,"record_kind":"original-editor-translator-note","review_required":["work and recension attribution","original-work chronology","Bible reference numbering and citation kind","English edition rights and attribution"],"review_status":"needs_review","rights_evidence":"Project Gutenberg metadata: Public domain in the USA. Historical 1870 English edition; electronic transcription subject to Project Gutenberg reuse terms.","source_anchor":"f1736","source_ebook":77576,"source_html":"<div class=\"footnote\" id=\"f1736\">\n<p class=\"c006\"><span class=\"label\"><a class=\"pginternal\" href=\"#r1736\">1736</a>. </span>4 Esdras <abbr title=\"two\">ii.</abbr> 43.</p>\n</div>","source_sha256":"5cef11d737d7f5d65aa99f44ca2d8e967d725f3bed872960330e88c0905597a9","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/77576/pg77576-images.html#f1736","text_sha256":"6c86ef5fbf658141c3ff663113aa1f3395b8377feb50d52a1557806a709e8e0c","verified":false,"work_id":null}