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| Similitude Fourth. As in Summer Living Trees are Distinguished from Withered by Fruit and Living Leaves, So in the World to Come the Just Differ from the Unjust in Happiness. PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP
Similitude Fourth.
As in Summer Living Trees are
Distinguished from Withered by Fruit and Living Leaves, So in the World
to Come the Just Differ from the Unjust in Happiness.
He showed me again many trees, some budding,
and others withered. And he said to me, “Do you see these
trees?” “I see, sir,” I replied, “some putting
forth buds, and others withered.” “Those,” he said,
“which are budding are the righteous who are to live in the world
to come; for the coming world is the summer260 of the righteous, but the winter of
sinners. When, therefore, the mercy of the Lord shines forth, then shall
they be made manifest who are the servants of God, and all men shall
be made manifest. For as in summer the fruits of each individual tree
appear, and it is ascertained of what sort they are, so also the fruits
of the righteous shall be manifest, and all who have been fruitful in
that world shall be made known.261
261
The Vatican has, “And all the merry and joyful shall be restored
in that age.” | But the heathen and sinners, like the
withered trees which you saw, will be found to be those who have been
withered and unfruitful in that world, and shall be burnt as wood,
and [so] made manifest, because their actions were evil during their
lives. For the sinners shall be consumed because they sinned and did
not repent, and the heathen shall be burned because they knew not Him
who created them. Do you therefore bear fruit, that in that summer
your fruit may be known. And refrain from much business, and you will
never sin: for they who are occupied with much business commit also many
sins, being distracted about their affairs, and not at all serving their
Lord.262 How, then,” he continued, “can such
a one ask and obtain anything from the Lord, if he serve Him not? They
who serve Him shall obtain their requests, but they who serve Him not
shall receive nothing. And in the performance even of a single action a
man can serve the Lord; for his mind will not be perverted from the Lord,
but he will serve Him, having a pure mind. If, therefore, you do these
things, you shall be able to bear fruit for the life to come. And every
one who will do these things shall bear fruit.”E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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