The Second Similitude.

Concerning the Elm and the Vine.

ND as I walked into the fields, and per

A ceived the elm and the vine, and considered

concerning them and their fruit, the shepherd appeared unto me and said, "What art thou meditating within thyself concerning the elm and the vine ?" "I am considering," I said, "that they are most ornamental to each other." "These two trees," he said, "are appointed for a sign unto the servants of God." "I should be glad," I said, "to know the meaning of the sign of which thou speakest, which is given by these trees." "Thou seest," he said, "the elm and the vine." said. "Now the vine," he saith, "beareth fruit, but the elm is a tree without fruit. But the vine, if it ascend not the elm, cannot bear much fruit, being cast on the ground, and the fruit which it doth bear, it beareth rotten if it hang not on the elm. If, therefore, the vine hang upon the elm it beareth fruit, both from itself and from the elm.

"I see them,” I

Thou seest therefore that the elm produceth much fruit, not less than the vine, but rather more. Because," he saith, "the vine, when it hangeth upon the elm, produceth much and good fruit, but when cast upon the ground it produceth little and bad. This similitude, therefore, is applicable to the servants of God, even to the poor and to the rich." "How?" said I; "Master, make it known unto me." "Listen," he said. "The rich hath much wealth, but in the things relating to the Lord he is poor, being distracted by his wealth, and giveth but little thanks and intercession unto the Lord, and that which he giveth is small and weak, and hath no power above. When, therefore, the rich man hath regard unto the poor, he ministereth unto him the things that are needful, trusting that for what he shall do unto the poor he will be able to find payment with God; (for the poor man is rich in intercession and thanksgiving, and his intercession hath great power before God ;) therefore the rich man ministereth all things to the poor, nothing doubting, but the poor man, being supplied by the rich, maketh intercession for him with God, giving thanks for him that gave unto him. And the rich man bestoweth yet more care on the poor in order that he may continue in life, for he knoweth that the intercession of the poor is accepted and rich before God.

Both therefore perform their proper work. The poor man worketh the intercession in which he is rich, and which he hath received from the Lord; this he giveth unto the master who ministereth

unto his wants; and the rich man, in like manner, furnisheth unto the poor, nothing doubting, the wealth that he hath received from the Lord. And this work is great and acceptable unto God, because the rich man hath understanding with respect to his wealth, and hath wrought good unto the poor from the gifts which the Lord hath given him, and hath finished rightly the ministry of the Lord. Among men, therefore, the elm seemeth not to bear fruit, and they know not, neither perceive that, if there cometh a drought, the elm having water nourisheth the vine, and the vine having water without intermission, giveth double fruit both for itself and for the elm. Thus, in like manner, the poor, by making intercession with the Lord on behalf of the rich, fulfil the object of their wealth, and again the rich, ministering unto the poor such things as be needful, fulfil the desire of their souls. Both therefore become partners in the work of righteousness, and the man who doth these things will not be abandoned by God, but his name will be written in the book of life. Blessed are the rich who understand that their wealth is from the Lord. For they who are thus minded will be able to do some good."

The Third Similitude.

Concerning Trees in Winter, and the Just and the Unjust.

HE

unto me,

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E showed me many trees which had no leaves, but which appeared to be, as it were, withered, for they were all alike, and he said Seest thou these trees ?" "I see them," I said. "O Master, they are all alike, and are withered." He answered and said unto me, "These trees that thou seest are they that dwell in this world." "Wherefore," I said unto him, "Master, are they withered, as it were, and all alike ?" "Because," he said, "neither the just are made manifest in this world nor the sinners, but they are all alike; for this world is winter to the just, and when they dwell with sinners they are not made manifest. For, as in the winter, the trees when they have shed their leaves are alike, and it doth not appear which are withered and which alive, so in this world neither the just nor the sinners are made manifest, but they are all alike."

Concerning Trees in Summer, and the Just and the Unjust.

A

GAIN he showed me many trees, some sprout

ing, others withered, and he said unto me, "Seest thou these trees?" "I see them," I said.

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O Master, some of them are sprouting, and some are withered." These trees," he said, "that are

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sprouting are the just, who will abide unto the world to come. For the world to come is summer unto the just, but unto sinners it is winter. When, therefore, the mercy of the Lord shall shine forth, then shall they who serve the Lord be made manifest. Yea, they shall all be made manifest; for, as in summer, the fruits of each single tree are made manifest, and are known of what kind they are, so the fruits of the just shall be manifest, and they will be known which are flourishing in that world; but the Gentiles and sinners, who are like the withered trees that thou sawedst, such shall they be found, even withered and without fruit, in the world to come. And they shall be burned like wood, and shall be