Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. I — G. R. S. Mead (1906)

In this treatise reference is made to one of the now lost " General Sermons," 3 the scene of which also took

1 See "The Popular Theurgic Hermes Cult in the Greek
Magic Papyri."

2 Compare Hermas, Vis. v. 2 : "I am sent . . . that I may dwell with thee for the rest of the days of thy life," with Prayer i. 10 : " for all the length of my life's days " ; and v. 3 : "I know into whose charge I have been given," with Prayer ii. 7 : "I know thee, Hermes."

3 fv rels •ytvtK.o'is.

place on a mountain. For in connection with it mention is made by Tat of his passing over a mountain, or ascending a mountain, at the beginning of his noviciate, when he became a " suppliant " ; l while it is further stated by Tat that at that stage the doctrine was not clearly explained, but rather hidden in riddles ; for that as yet he was not sufficiently purified, and made " a stranger to the world-illusion."

Now, it is remarkable that " Hermas," in the appendix to the book (Sim. ix.), tells us that after these revelations the Shepherd came to him again, and told him that much had not been explained because of his "weakness in the flesh"; but now that he has been strengthened by the Spirit, the Shepherd will explain all " with greater clearness." He then takes him away into Arcadia (a very unexpected locality for a Christian writer in Home to choose), to a " breast-like mountain," where he has the further teaching revealed to him.

But, strangely enough, it was precisely in Arcadia that the chief Hellenic cult of Hermes existed, as stated by Lactantius, basing himself on the common belief at Eome ; 2 and from Arcadia it was that Hermes, according to a tendency-legend that even at Eome went back at least to the second century B.C., set forth to teach the Egyptians.

"GNOSTIC" ELEMENTS

Moreover, " Hermas " is throughout strongly tinged with " Gnostic " elements. As I wrote in my last book,3 it is practically one of the very numerous" HERMAS " AND " HERMES " 377 permutations and combinations of the Sophia-mythus — one of the many settings-forth of the mystic lore and love of the Christ and the Sophia, or Wisdom, of the Son of God and His spouse or sister, the Holy Spirit, of the King and Queen, of the Lord and the Virgin Church. In its most instructive series of visions are depicted the mystic scenes of the allegorical drama of man's inner nature — the mystery-play of all time.

1 A term used by Philo as a synonym of Therapeut.

2 Div. Institt., i. 6— as cited among Evidences from the Fathers, where see my note on Pheneus.

3 Op. sup. cit., p. 365.

But when we say "Gnostic" we mean much that is also Hellenistic mysticism, and therefore much that is also " Hermetic," for in the Trismegistic literature there is set forth a Gnosis of a far simpler type than in any of the Christian systems technically called " Gnostic."

THE VICES AND VIRTUES

A striking example of the similarity of ideas of this nature is found in comparing the list of twelve vices and ten (seven and three) virtues, given in C. H., xiii. (xiv.) 7-1 0,1 with "Hermas," Sim. ix. 15, 1-3, where twelve " virgins," each bearing the name of a virtue, are set over against twelve " women clothed in black," each bearing the name of a vice ; and with " Hermas," Vis. iii. 8, 7, where seven women, each in turn the mother of the other, are called by the names of seven virtues.

"We need not, of course, necessarily suppose any direct contact in this case, though it is curious that the list of virtues occurs precisely in the sermon "On the Mountain :> ; but both writers clearly move in, or are influenced by, the same circle of ideas, and that, too, ideas of a very special nature.

The above points are sufficient for our purpose, and throw a most interesting light on one element in the composition of the very ancient Christian document whose exclusion from the canon, after enjoying for so many years practically canonical authority, is to be regretted.

1 The very treatise to which we have previously referred in connection with the " mountain."

THE EARLY DATE OF THE ORIGINAL " HERMAS "