He had served this Holy Spirit without blame, and done more than he was set to do, he was made heir with the master’s son.
He seems to have had some scruple about his statements, for he answers the objection as to putting the Son of God there, that He was put in a place of authority to set His messengers over those the Father had delivered to Him. His instructor adds, he must keep his body clean and pure. Hermas then asks, what if, through ignorance, he had already defiled his Holy Spirit? His instructor replies, as for men’s former actions which through ignorance they have committed, God only can afford a remedy unto them, for all power belongeth unto Him; but now guard thyself; and seeing God is Almighty and merciful, He will grant a remedy to what thou hast formerly done amiss, if for the time to come thou shalt not defile thy body and spirit.
In the ninth similitude (xvi.), we find, if, indeed, I understand it, the dead of the Old Testament, though already dead, were sealed with baptism, or they could not be built into the tower, the church; how is somewhat obscure, but it seems the apostles and teachers, when they died, went down to the dead, and put the seal of baptism on them, so they came up alive with them. (viii. 3.)
The great tree … is the law of God published throughout the whole earth. Now this law is the Son of God, who is preached to all the ends of the earth. … The great and venerable angel was Michael, who has power over this people, and governs them; for he has planted the law in the hearts of those who have believed; and therefore visits those to whom he has given the law; to see if they have kept it.
