Apocryphal New Testament — Historical English Collection

Apocryphal New Testament — Hone/Wake/Jones — Section 33

4 This vine, saith he, is fruit- ful, but the elm is a tree without fruit. Nevertheless this vine unless it were set by this elm, and supported by it, would not bear much fruit; but lying along upon the ground, would bear but- ill fruit, because it did not hang upon the elm ; whereas, beingsup- ported upon the elm, it bears fruit both for itself and for that. 5 See, therefore, how the elm gives no less, but rather more fruit, than the vine. How, Sir, said I, does it bear more fruit than the vine ? Because, said he, the vine being supported upon the elm gives both much and good fruit ; whereas, if it lay along upon the ground, it would bear but little, and that very ill too. 6 This similitude, therefore, is set forth to the servants of God ; 1 Souls. ^ MS. Lambeth. Proprias, autem quas habetis agite. Origen. in Jos. Horn. x. 229 3Vid. Oj green and III. HERMAS. dry leaves. and it represents the rich and poor man. I answered, Sir, make til is manifest unto me. Hear, said he; the rich man has wealth ; howbeit towards the Lord he is poor; for he is Haken up about his riches, and prays but little to the Lord; and the prayers which he makes are lazy and without force. 7 When, therefore, the rich man reaches out to the poor those things which he wants, the poor man prays unto the Lord for the rich ; and God grants unto the rich man all good things, because the poor man is rich in prayer ; and his requests have great power with the Lord. 8 Then the rich man ministers all things to the poor, because he perceives that he is heard by the Lord : and he the more will- ingly and without doubting, affords him what he wants, and takes care that nothing be lack- ing to him. 9 And the poor man gives thanks unto the Lord for the rich ; because they do both their work from the Lord. 10 With men therefore, the elm is not thought to give any fruit ; and they know not neither understand that its company being added to the vine, the vine bears a double increase, both for itself and for the elm.