Book 25

He showed me a great willow, covering plains and mountains, and under the cover of the willow-tree all had come who were called by the name of the Lord.

And there stood an angel of the Lord, glorious and very tall, by the side of the willow, with a great pruning-hook, and he kept cutting branches from the willow, and gave them to the people who were in the shade of the willow, and he gave them little rods about a cubit long.

After they had all received the little sticks the angel put down the pruning-hook, and that tree remained as sound as when I first saw it.

And I wondered in myself saying: How is the tree sound, when so many branches have been cut off? The shepherd said to me: Do not wonder that this tree has remained sound, though so many branches have been cut off; but if you see everything it will be made clear to you what it is.

The angel who had given the sticks to the people asked them back, and as they had received so also they were called to him, and each of them gave back the sticks. And the angel of the Lord took them and looked at them.

From some he received the sticks dried and, as it were, moth-eaten. The angel commanded those who had given up such sticks, to stand apart.

And others gave up dry sticks, but they were not moth-eaten, and these he commanded to stand apart.

And others gave up sticks half dry, and these stood apart.

And others gave up their sticks half dry and with cracks, and these stood apart.

And others gave up their sticks, green and having cracks, and these stood apart.

And others gave up their sticks half dry and half green, and these stood apart.

And others brought two-thirds of the stick green, and one-third dry, and these stood apart.

And others gave up two-thirds dry, and one-third green, and these stood apart.

And others gave up their sticks almost wholly green, but a little of their sticks was dry, just the tip, and they had cracks in them, and these stood apart.

And of others there was very little green and the rest of the sticks was dry, and these stood apart.

And others came, bearing their sticks green, as they had received them from the angel, and the greater part of the multitude gave up such sticks, and the angel rejoiced greatly over these, and these stood apart.

And others gave up their sticks green and with buds, and these stood apart, and over these also the angel rejoiced greatly.

And others gave up their sticks green and with buds. and the buds had; as it were, some fruit. And those men whose sticks were found thus were very joyful; and the angel rejoiced and the shepherd was very joyful over them.

And the angel of the Lord commanded crowns to be brought; and crowns were brought; made; as it were; of palm leaves; and he crowned the men who had given up their sticks with buds and some fruit; and sent them away into the tower.

And he sent also the others into the tower who gave up their sticks green and with buds; but the buds without fruit; and he gave them seals.

And all who went into the tower had the same clothing; white as snow.

And he sent away those who had given up their sticks green, as they had received them, and gave them clothing and seals.

After the angel had finished this he said to the shepherd: I am going away, but you shall send these within j the walls, according as any is worthy to dwell there. s But consider their sticks carefully and thus let them go, but look carefully. See to it that none pass you, he said, but if anyone pass you, I will test them at the altar. When he had said this to the shepherd he departed.

And after the angel had departed the shepherd said to me: Let us take the sticks of all of them, and plant them to see if some 
of them will be able to live. I said to him: Sir, how can these dry things live?

He answered me, and said: This tree is a willow, and is a. species tenacious of life. If then, the sticks be planted and receive a little moisture, many of them will live; but next we must try them, and water them. If any of them can live I shall rejoice with them, and if they do not live I shall not be proved careless.

And the shepherd commanded me to call each of them as they stood. They came, rank by rank, and gave up their sticks to the shepherd. And the shepherd took the sticks and planted them in ranks, and after planting them, poured much water round them, so that the sticks could not be seen for the water.

And after he had watered the sticks he said to me: Let us go and come back after a few days, and visit all the sticks, for he who created this tree wishes all to live who received branches from this tree. And I too have hope for these sticks which have received moisture and been watered, that the greater part of them will live.

I said to him: Sir, tell me what this tree is. For I am perplexed about it, that although so many branches have been cut off, the tree is healthy, and nothing seems to have been cut from it; I am perplexed at this.

Listen, said he, this great tree, which covers plains and mountains and all the earth, is God’s law which was given to all the world. And this law is God’s son preached to the ends of the earth. And those who are under its shade are nations which have heard the preaching and have believed in it.

And the great and glorious angel is Michael, who has power over this people and governs them; for this is he who put the law into the hearts of those who believe. Therefore he looks after those to whom he gave it to see if they have really kept it.

But you see the sticks of each one, for the sticks are the law. Therefore, you see that many sticks have been made useless, and you will understand, that they are all the men who have not observed the law; and you will see the dwelling of each one of them.

I said to him: Sir, why did he send some into the tower, and left some to you? All those who have transgressed against the law, which they received from him, he left to my authority for repentance. But as many as were already well-pleased with the law, and have observed it, he keeps them under his own authority.

Who then, Sir, said I, are they who were crowned and went into the tower? All those, said he, who wrestled with the devil and conquered him, have been crowned. These are they who suffered for the law.

And the others who also gave up their sticks green and having buds, but without fruit, are they who were persecuted for the law, but did not suffer, and did not deny their law.

And those who gave them up green, as they received them, are holy and righteous and have walked far with a pure heart, and have kept the commandments of the Lord. And the rest you will know, when I look at these sticks which have been planted and watered.

And after a few days he came to the place, and the shepherd sat in the place of the angel, and I stood by him, and he said to me; Gird yourself with a towel and serve me. And I girded myself with a clean towel made of sackcloth.

And when he saw me girded and ready to serve him he said: Call the men whose sticks have been planted, according to the order in which each gave his stick. And I went into the plain and called all of them, and they all stood in their stations.

And he said to them: Let each pull out his own stick and bring it to me.

And they first gave them up who had had them dry and cut, and they were found to be still dry and cut, and he commanded them to stand apart.

Then they gave them up who had them dry, but not cut, and some of them gave up their sticks green and some dry and cut as it were by moth. Those then who gave them up green he commanded to stand apart, and those who had given them up dry and cut he commanded to stand with the first ones.

Then those gave them up who had them half dry and cracked, and many of them gave them up green and without cracks, and some green and with buds, and with fruit on the buds, as those had had who had gone crowned into the tower. But some gave them up dry and moth-eaten, and some dry but not eaten, and some remained half dry and with cracks. And he commanded each of them to stand apart, some in their own station and some apart.

Next those gave up their sticks who had had them green but with cracks, and these all gave them up green and stood in their own station. And the shepherd rejoiced over these that all were changed and had lost their cracks.

And those also gave them up who had had them half green and half dry. The sticks of some of them w ere found quite green, of some half dry, of some dry and moth-eaten, but of some green and with buds. All these were sent each to his own station.

Next those gave them up who had two-thirds green and one-third dry; many of them gave them up green, but many half-dry, and others dry and moth-eaten; these all stood in their own station.

Next they gave them up who had had two-thirds dry, and one-third green. Many of them gave them up half-dry,, and some dry and moth-eaten and others half-dry and with cracks, and a few green. These all stood in their own station.

And those gave up their sticks who had had them green, but a very little dry and with cracks. Of these some gave them up green, and some green and with buds. These also went away to their own station.

Next, those gave them up who had had a very little green, but the rest dry. Of these the sticks were found for the greatest part green and with buds, and fruit on the buds, and others quite green. Over these sticks the shepherd rejoiced greatly because they were found thus. And these went away each to his own station.

After the shepherd had looked at the sticks of them all, he said to me: I told you that this tree is tenacious of life. Do you see, said he, how many have repented and been saved? Yes, Sir, said I, I see it. See then, said he, the mercifulness of the Lord, that it is great and glorious, and he has given his spirit to those who are worthy of repentance.

Why then. Sir, said I, did not all repent? He gave repentance to those, said he, whose heart he saw would be pure, and would serve him with all their heart. But in whom he saw guile and wickedness, that they would repent with hypocrisy, to them he gave no repentance, lest they should again defile his name.

I said to him: Sir, now therefore, explain to me those who gave up the sticks, what is the character of each and their dwelling, that when those hear who have believed and have received the seal, and have broken it, and have not kept it whole, they may recognize their own deeds, and repent, and receive a seal from you and glorify the Lord, that he had mercy on them, and sent you to renew their spirits.

Listen, said he, those whose sticks are dry and were found moth-eaten are the apostates and the betrayers of the Church, and blasphemers of the Lord in their sins; and moreover they were ashamed of the name of the Lord which was called over them. These then have finally perished to God. And you see that not even one of them repented, although they heard the words which you spoke to them, which I commanded you; from such life is departed.

And they who gave up their sticks dry and not moth-eaten, these are also near them; for they were hypocrites, and introduced strange doctrines and corrupted the servants of God, and especially those who have sinned, not suffering them to repent, but persuading them with their foolish doctrines. These, then, have hope of repentance.

And you see that many of them have repented since I told them my commandments; and they shall still repent. But as many as shall not repent have lost their lives. But as many of them as repented became good and their dwelling was within the first walls, and some of them even went up into the tower. You see then, said he, that repentance of sins brings life, but not to repent brings death.

And as many as gave them up half dry and had cracks in them; listen also, concerning them:— They, whose sticks were half dry are the double-minded, for they are neither alive nor dead.

And those who had them half dry and with cracks, these are double-minded and evil speakers, and are never at peace among themselves, but are always making schisms; but repentance, said he, waits also for these. You see, said he, that some of them have repented, and there remains, said he, still hope of repentance in them.

And as many of them, said he, as have repented, shall have their dwellings in the tower, and as many of them as have repented more slowly, shall dwell on the Avails. But as many as do not repent, but remain in their deeds, shall die the death.

And they who gave up their sticks green and with cracks, these were ever faithful and good, but had some jealousy among themselves over the first place and some question of reputation. But all these are foolish, who quarrel among themselves about the first place.

But these also, when they heard my commandments, because they were good, purified themselves and quickly repented; so their dwelling was in the tower. But if any of them turn again to schism he shall be cast out from the tower, and shall lose his life.

Life is for all those who keep the commandments of the Lord. And in the commandments there is nothing about the first place or any question of reputation, but about man’s long-suffering and humility. Among such, then, is the life of the Lord, but among the schismatic and law-breakers there is death.

But those who gave up their sticks half-green and half-dry these are those who are concerned with business and do not cleave to the saints; for this reason half of them is alive, and half is dead.

Many, then, of them, when they heard my commandments repented. As many, as repented, have their dwelling in the tower; but some of them were apostate to the end. These then have no repentance, for because of their business they blasphemed the Lord and denied him. So they lost their life because of the wickedness which they wrought.

And many of them were double-minded. These have still repentance if they repent quickly, and their dwelling shall be in the tower, but if they repent more slowly they shall dwell on the walls. But if they do not repent they also have lost their life.

And those who gave up their sticks two-thirds green, and one-third dry, these are they who have denied with manifold denials.

Many of them therefore repented and went to live in the tower. But many of them were apostates from God to the end; these lost their life finally. And some of them were double-minded, and were schismatic, these then have repentance, if they repent quickly, and do not remain in their pleasures; but if they continue in their deeds, these also procure death for themselves.

And those who gave up their sticks two-thirds dry, and one-third green, these are they who were faithful, but became rich and in honour among the heathen; then they put on great haughtiness and became high-minded, and abandoned the truth, and did not cleave to the righteous, but lived together with the heathen, and this way pleased them better. But they were not apostates from God, but remained in the faith, without doing the works of the faith.

Many, then, of them repented, and their dwelling was in the tower.

But others lived to the end with the heathen, and were corrupted by the vainglory of the heathen, and were apostates from God, and did the deeds of the heathen. These were reckoned with the heathen.

And others of them were double-minded, not hoping to be saved, because of the deeds which they had done. And others were double-minded, and made schisms among themselves. For these, then, who became double-minded because of their deeds there is still repentance, but their repentance must be speedy that their dwelling may be within the tower. But for those who do not repent, but remain in their pleasures, death is near.

But those who gave up their sticks green, but the tips were dry and had cracks, these were always good and faithful and glorious before God, but they sinned a little because of small lusts, and had small quarrels with one another. But when they heard my word the greater part repented quickly, and their dwelling was in the tower.

But some of them were double-minded, and some in their double-mindedness made a greater schism. For these then there is still hope of repentance, because they were always good, and not easily shall any of them die.

But those who gave up their sticks dry, but with a little green, these are they who had belief only but did the deeds of wickedness; but they were never apostates from God, and they bore the name gladly, and they gladly received into their houses the servants of God. When they heard, then, of this repentance, they repented without doubting, and are accomplishing all virtue and righteousness.

But some of them are also afraid, knowing the deeds which they had done. All these, then, shall have their dwelling in the tower.

And after he had finished the explanations of all the sticks he said to me: Go and tell all men to repent and live to God, for the Lord sent me in his mercy to give repentance to all, although some are not worthy because of their deeds. But the Lord, being long-suffering, wishes those who were called through his Son to be saved.

I said to him: Sir, I hope that all who hear them will repent. For I am persuaded that each one who recognizes his own deeds and fears God will repent.

And he answered me and said: As many, said he, as repent with all their hearts, and purify themselves from the wickednesses which have been mentioned before, and no longer add anything to their sins, shall receive healing from the Lord for their former sins, if they are not double-minded as to these commandments, and they shall live to God. But as many, said he, as add to their sins, and live in the lusts of this world shall condemn themselves to death.

But do you walk in my commandments and you shall live to God, and as many as walk in them and do rightly, shall live to God.

When he had showed me these things and had told me everything, he said to me: And the rest I will show yon after a few days.