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| Similitude Second. As the Vine is Supported by the Elm, So is the Rich Man Helped by the Prayer of the Poor.
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Similitude Second.
As the Vine is Supported by the Elm, So
is the Rich Man Helped by the Prayer of the Poor.
As I was
walking in the field, and observing an elm and vine, and determining in
my own mind respecting them and their fruits, the Shepherd appears to
me, and says, “What is it that you are thinking about the elm and
vine?” “I am considering,” I reply, “that they
become each other exceedingly well.” “These two trees,”
he continues, “are intended as an example for the servants of
God.” “I would like to know,” said I, “the
example which these trees you say, are intended to teach.”
“Do you see,” he says, “the elm and the vine?”
“I see them sir,” I replied. “This vine,” he
continued, “produces fruit, and the elm is an unfruitful tree;
but unless the vine be trained upon the elm, it cannot bear much fruit
when extended at length upon the ground;251
| 251 The Vatican reads: “Unless this vine be attached
to the elm, and rest upon it, it cannot bear much fruit. For, lying upon
the ground, it produces bad fruit, because it is not suspended upon the
elm.” | and the fruit which it does bear is rotten, because
the plant is not suspended upon the elm. When, therefore, the vine is cast
upon the elm, it yields fruit both from itself and from the elm. You see,
moreover, that the elm also produces much fruit, not less than the vine,
but even more; because,”252
| 252
The Vatican here makes Hermas interrupt the Shepherd, and ask, “How
greater than the vine?” | he continued, “the vine,
when suspended upon the elm, yields much fruit, and good; but when
thrown upon the ground, what it produces is small and rotten. This
similitude,253
| 253 [Based on
Jas. i. 9–11, 27, and ii. 1–9: introducing the heathen world
to just ideas of human brotherhood, and the mutual relations of the poor
and the rich.] | therefore, is for the servants of God—for
the poor man and for the rich.” “How so, sir?” said I;
“explain the matter to me.” “Listen,” he said:
“The rich man has much wealth, but is poor in matters relating to
the Lord, because he is distracted about his riches; and he offers very
few confessions and intercessions to the Lord, and those which he does
offer are small and weak, and have no power above. But when the rich
man refreshes254
| 254 The translation
of the text is based on the Palatine. Lips. Reads: “When the
rich man fills out upon the poor.” Hilgenfeld amends this:
“When the rich man recovers breath upon the poor.” Neither
gives sense. The Æthiopic has: “But if the rich man lean on
the poor;” and the Greek of Hilgenfeld might mean: “When the
rich man recovers his breath by leaning on the poor.” The Vatican
is quite different: “When, therefore, the rich man helps the poor
in those things which he needs, the poor man prays to the Lord for the
rich man, and God bestows all blessings upon the rich man, because
the poor man is rich in prayer, and his prayer has great merit with
God. Then the rich man accordingly assists the poor man’s things,
because he feels that he is fully heard (exaudiri) by the Lord;
and the more willingly and unhesitatingly does he give him every help,
and takes care that he wants for nothing. The poor man gives thanks
to God for the rich man, because they do their duty in respect to the
Lord (a Domino).” | the poor, and assists him in
his necessities, believing that what he does to the poor man will be
able to find its reward with God—because the poor man is rich
in intercession and confession, and his intercession has great power
with God—then the rich man helps the poor in all things without
hesitation; and the poor man, being helped by the rich, intercedes for
him, giving thanks to God for him who bestows gifts upon him. And he still
continues to interest himself zealously for the poor man, that his wants
may be constantly supplied. For he knows that the intercession of the poor
man is acceptable and influential255
| 255
[I note this use of the word “influential,” because it
was formerly denounced as an Americanism.] | with God. Both,
accordingly, accomplish their work. The poor man makes intercession;
a work in which he is rich, which he received from the Lord, and with
which he recompenses the master who helps him. And the rich man, in like
manner, unhesitatingly bestows upon the poor man the riches which he
received from the Lord. And this is a great work, and acceptable before
God, because he understands the object of his wealth, and has given to
the poor of the gifts of the Lord, and rightly discharged his service to
Him.256
Among men, however, the elm appears not to produce fruit, and they do not
know nor understand that if a drought come, the elm, which contains water,
nourishes the vine; and the vine, having an unfailing supply of water,
yields double fruit both for itself and for the elm. So also poor men
interceding with the Lord on behalf of the rich, increase their riches;
and the rich, again, aiding the poor in their necessities, satisfy
their souls. Both, therefore, are partners in the righteous work. He who
does these things shall not be deserted by God, but shall be enrolled
in the books of the living. Blessed are they who have riches, and who
understand that they are from the Lord. [For they who are of that mind
will be able to do some good.257
| 257
The sentence in brackets is not in Lips. It is taken from
Pal. | ]”E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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