As in the summer the living trees are distinguished
from the dry by their fruit and green leaves;
so in the world to come the righteous shall be
distinguished from the unrighteous by their happiness.
AGAIN he showed me many
other trees, of which some
had leaves, and others appeared
dry and withered. And he said
unto me, Seest thou these trees
I answered, Sir, I see them; some
are dry, and others full of leaves.
2 These trees, saith be, which
are green, are the righteous, who
shall possess the world to come.
For the world to come, is the summer
to the righteous; but to sinners
it is the winter.
3 When, therefore, the mercy
of the Lord shall shine forth, then
they who serve God shall be made
manifest, and plain unto all. For
as in the summer the fruit of every
tree is shown and made manifest.
so also the works of the righteous
shall be declared and made manifest,
and they shall all be restored
in that world merry and joyful.
4 For the other kind of men,
namely the wicked, like the trees
which thou rawest dry, shall, as
such, be found dry and without
fruit in that other world; and like
dry wood shall be burnt; and it
shall be made manifest that they
have done evil all the time of their
life;
5 And they shall be burnt because
they have sinned and have not
repented of their sins. And
also all the other nations shall
be burnt, because they have not
acknowledged God their Creator.
6 Do then, therefore, bring forth
good fruit, that in the summer thy
fruit may be known; and keep
thyself from much business, and
thou shalt not offend. For they
who are involved in much business,
sin much; because they are taken
up with their affairs, and
serve not God.
7 And how can a man that does
not serve God, ask anything of
God, and receive it? But they
who serve him, ask and receive
what they desire.
8 But if a man has only one
thing to follow, he may serve God,
because his mind is not taken off
from God, but he serves him with
a pure mind.
9 If, therefore, thou shalt do
this, thou mayest have fruit in
the world to come; and as many as
shall do in like manner, shall
bring forth fruit.
SIMILITUDE V.
Of a true fast, and the rewards of it:
also of the cleanliness of the body.
AS I was fasting, and sitting
down in a certain mountain,
and giving thanks unto God for all
the things that he had done unto
me; behold, I saw the Shepherd,
who was wont to converse with
me, sitting by me, and saying
unto me: What has brought thee
hither thus early in the morning?
I answered, Sir, to-day I keep a
station.
2 He answered, What is a station;
I replied, it is a fast. He said,
What is that fast? I answered,
I fast as I have been wont to
do. Ye know not, said he, what
it is to fast unto God; nor is this
a fast which ye keep, profiting
nothing with God.
3 Sir, said I, what makes you
speak thus? He replied, I speak
it, because it is not the true fast
which you think that you keep;
but I will show you what that is
which is a complete fast, and
acceptable unto God.
4 Hearken, said he, The Lord
does not desire such a needless
fast; for by fasting in this manner,
thou advancest nothing in
righteousness.
5 But the true fast is this: Do
nothing wickedly in thy life, but
serve God with a pure mind; and
keep his commandments, and walk
according to his precepts, nor
suffer any wicked desire to enter
into the mind.
6 But trust in the Lord, that if
thou dost these things, any fearest
him, and abstaineth from every
evil work, thou shall live unto
God.
7 If thou shalt do this, thou
shall perfect a great fast, and an
acceptable one unto the Lord.
8 Hearken unto the similitude
which I am about to propose
unto thee, as to this matter.
9 A certain man having a farm,
and many servants, planted a vineyard
in a certain part of his estate for
his posterity:
10 And taking a journey into
a far country, chose one of his
servants which he thought the most
faithful and approved, and delivered
the vineyard into his care;
commanding him that he should
stake up the vines. Which if he
did, and fulfilled his command, he
promised to give him his liberty.
Nor did he command him to do
any thing more; and so went into
a far country.
11 And after that servant had
taken that charge upon him, he
did whatsoever his lord commanded
him. And when he had staked the
vineyard, and found it to be full
of weeds, he began to think within
himself, saying:
12 I have done what my lord
commanded me, I will now dig
this vineyard, and when it is digged,
it will be more beautiful; and the
weeds being pulled up, it will
bring forth more fruit and not be
choked by the weeds.
13 So setting about this work
he digged it, and plucked up all
the weeds that were in it; and so
the vineyard became very beautiful
and prosperous, not being choked
with weeds.
14 After some time the lord of
the vineyard comes and goes into
the vineyard, and when he saw
that it was handsomely staked and
digged, and the weeds plucked up
that were in it, and the vines
flourishing, he rejoiced greatly at
the care of his servant.
15 And calling his son whom
he loved, and who was to be his
heir, and his friends with whom
he was wont to consult; he tells
them what he had commanded his
servant to do, and what his
servant had done more; and they
immediately congratulated that
servant, that he had received so
full a testimony from his lord.
16 Then he said to them, I
indeed promised this servant his
liberty, if he observed the command
which I gave him; and he observed it,
and besides has done a good work
to my vineyard, which has exceedingly
pleased me.
17 Wherefore, for this work
which he hath done, I will make
him my heir together with my
son; because that when he saw
what was good, he neglected it
not, but did it.
18 This design of the lord both
his son and his friends approved,
namely, that his servant should be
heir together with his son.
19 Not long after this the master
of the family calling together, his
friends, sent from his supper several
kinds of food to that servant.
20 Which when he had received,
he took so much of them as was
sufficient for himself, and divided
the rest among his fellow-servants.
21 Which when they had received,
they rejoiced; and wished that
he might find yet greater favour
with his lord, for what he had
done to them.
22 When his lord heard all these
things, he was again filled with
great joy: and calling again his
friends and his son together, he
related to them what his servant
had done with the meats which he
had sent unto him.
23 They therefore so much the
more assented to the master of the
household; and he ought to make
that servant his heir together with
his son.
24 I said unto him, sir, I know
not these smilitudes, neither can
I understand them, unless you
expound them unto me. I will,
says he, expound, all things unto
thee whatsoever I have talked with
thee, or shown unto thee.
25 Keep the commandments of
the Lord and thou shalt be approved,
and shall be written in the number
of those that keep his commandments.
But if besides those things which
the Lord hath commanded, thou shalt
add some good thing; thou shall
purchase to thyself a greater dignity,
and be in more favour with the Lord
than thou shouldst otherwise have been.
26 If therefore thou shalt keep
the commandments of the Lord,
and shalt add to them these stations,
thou shall rejoice; but especially
if thou shalt keep them according
to my commands.
27 I said unto him, sir, whatsoever
thou shah command me, I will observe;
for I know that thou wilt be with me.
I will, said he, be with thee who hast
taken up such a resolution; and I will
be with all those who purpose in like
manner.
28 This fast, saith he, whilst
thou dost also observe the
commandments of the Lord, is
exceeding good; therefore thus
shalt thou keep it.
29 First of all, take heed to
thyself, and keep thyself from every
wicked act, and from every filthy
word, and from every hurtful desire;
and purify thy mind from all the
vanity of this present world. If
thou shalt observe these things,
this fast shall be right.
30 Thus therefore do. Having
performed what is before written,
that day on which thou fastest
thou shalt taste nothing at all but
bread and water; and computing
the quantity of food which thou
art want to eat upon other days,
thou shalt lay aside the expense
which thou shouldest have made
that day, and give it unto the
widow, the fatherless, and the
poor.
31 And thus thou shalt perfect
the humiliation of thy soul; that
he who receives of it may satisfy
his soul, and his prayer come up
to the Lord God for thee.
32 If therefore thou shalt thus
accomplish thy fast, as I command
thee, thy sacrifice shall be
acceptable unto the Lord, and thy
fast shall be written in his book.
33 This station, thus performed,
is good and pleasing and acceptable
unto the Lord. These things if thou
shalt observe with thy children and
with all thy house, thou shalt
be happy.
34 And whosoever, when they
hear these things, shall do them,
they also shall be happy; and
whatsoever they shall ask of the
Lord they shall receive it.
35 And I prayed him that he
would expound unto me the similitude
of the farm, and the Lord, and of
the vineyard, and of the servant
that had staked the vineyard;
and of the weeds that were
plucked out of the vineyard; and
of his son and his friends which
he took into counsel with him;
for I understand that that was
a similitude.
36 He said unto me, Thou art
very bold in asking; for thou
oughtest not to ask any thing;
because if it be fitting to show it
unto thee, it shall be showed unto
thee.
37 I answered him; Sir, whatsoever
thou shalt show me, without explaining
it unto me, I shall in vain see it,
if I do not understand what it is.
And if thou shalt propose any
similitudes, and not expound them,
I shall in vain hear them.
38 He answered me again, saying:
Whosoever is the servant of God,
and has the Lord in his heart,
he desires understanding of him,
and receives it; and he explains
every similitude, and understands
the words of the Lord which need
an inquiry.
39 But they that are lazy and
slow to pray, doubt to seek from
the Lord: although the Lord be of
such an extraordinary goodness,
that without ceasing he giveth all
things to them that ask of him.
40 Thou therefore who art
strengthened by that venerable
messenger, and hast received such
a powerful gift of prayer; seeing
thou art not slothful, why dost
thou not now ask understanding of
the Lord, and receive it?
41 I said unto him; seeing I
have thee present, it is necessary
that I should seek it of thee, and
ask thee; for thou shewest all
things unto me, and speakest to
me when thou art present.
42 But if I should see or hear
these things when thou wert not
present, I would then ask the Lord
that he would chew them unto me.
43 And he replied, I said a
little before that thou wert subtle
and bold, in that thou asketh the
meaning of these similitudes.
44 But because thou still persistest,
I will unfold to thee this parable
which then desirest, that thou mayest
make it known unto all men.
45 Hear, therefore, said he,
and understand. The farm before
mentioned denotes the whole earth.
The Lord of the farm is he, who
created and finished all things;
and gave virtue unto them.
46 His son is the Holy Spirit;
the servant is the Son of God: the
vineyard is the people whom he
saves. The stakes are the messengers
which are set oven them by the Lord,
to support his people. The weeds
that are plucked up out of the
vineyard, are the sins which
the servants of God had
committed.
47 The food which he sent him
from his supper, are the commands
which he gave to his people by his
Son. The friends whom he called
to counsel with him, are the holy
angels whom he first created. The
absence of the master of the household,
is the time that remains unto
his coming.
48 I said unto him, Sir, all
these things are very excellent,
and wonderful, and good. But,
continued I, could I or any other
man besides, though never so wise,
have understood these things?
49 Wherefore now, sir, tell me,
what I ask. He replied, ask me
what thou wilt. Why, said I, is
the Son of God in this parable,
put in the place of a servant.
50 Hearken, he said: the Son
of God is not put in the condition
of a servant, but in great power
and authority. I said unto him,
how, sir? I understand it not.
51 Because, said he, the Son set
his messengers over those whom
the Father delivered unto him, to
keep every one of them; but he
himself laboured very much, and
suffered much, that he might blot
out their offences.
52 For no vineyard can be digged
without much labour and pains.
Wherefore having blotted out the
sins of his people, he showed to
them the paths of life, giving
them the law which he had
received of the Father.
53 You see, said he, that he is
the Lord of his people, having
received all power from his Father.
But why the lord did take his
son into counsel, about dividing
the inheritance, and the good
angels, hear now.
54 That Holy Spirit, which was
created first of all, he placed in the
body in which God should dwell;
namely, in a chosen body, as it
seemed good to him. This body
therefore into which the Holy
Spirit was brought, served that
Spirit, walking rightly and purely
in modesty; nor ever defiled that
Spirit.
55 Seeing therefore the body at
all times obeyed the Holy Spirit,
and laboured rightly and chastely
with him, nor faltered at anytime;
that body being wearied conversed
indeed servilely, but being
mightily approved to God with
the Holy Spirit, was accepted by
him.
56 For such a stout course
pleased God, because he was not
defiled in the earth, keeping the
Holy Spirit. He called therefore
to counsel his Son, and the good
angels, that there might be some
place of standing given to this
body which had served the Holy
Spirit without blame; lest it
should seem to have lost the
reward of its service.
57 For every pure body shall
receive its reward; that is found
without spot, in which the Holy
Spirit has been appointed to dwell.
And thus you have now the exposition
of this parable also.
58 Sir, said I, I now understand
your meaning, since I have heard
this exposition. Hearken farther,
said he: keep this thy body clean
and pure, that the Spirit which
shall dwell in it may bear witness
unto it, and be judged to have
been with thee.
59 Also take heed that it be not
instilled into thy mind that this
body perishes, and thou abuse it
to any lust. For if thou shalt
defile thy body, thou shalt also at
the same time defile the Holy
Spirit; and if thou shalt defile
the Holy Spirit, thou shall not
live.
60 And I said, What if through
ignorance this should have been
already committed, before a man
heard these words; How can he
attain into salvation, who has thus
defiled his body?
61 He replied, As for men's former
actions which through ignorance
they have committed, God only can
afford a remedy unto them; for all
the power belongeth unto him.
62 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:
63 For they are companions together,
and the one cannot be defiled but the
other will be so too. Keep therefore
both of them pure, and thou shalt
live unto God.