cases where Sparrow uses the word "power," the original, Kraft, is best rendered by the word "virtue," as St Martin has done. 3. But when the tree beareth few fruit, and those but small, shrivelled, rotten, and wormeaten, the fault doth not lie in the will of the tree, as if it desired purposely to bear evil fruit, because it is a goodly tree of good quality. But here lieth the fault: because there is often great cold, great heat, and mildew, caterpillars and other worms happen to it; for the quality in the deep, from the influence of the stars, spoileth it, and that maketh it bear but few good fruit. 4. Now the tree is of this condition, that the bigger and older it is, the sweeter fruit it beareth: In its younger years it beareth few fruit, which the crude and wild nature of the ground or earth causeth, and the superfluous moisture in the tree: And though it beareth many fair blossoms, yet the most of its apples fall off whilst they are growing; unless it standeth in a very good soil or mould. Now this tree also hath a good sweet quality; but there are three others, which are contrary to it, namely, the bitter, the sour, and the astringent. 5. As the tree is, so will its fruit be, till the sun worketh on them and maketh them sweet; so that they become of a pleasant taste, and its fruit must also hold out in rain, wind and tempest. 6. But when the tree groweth old, that its branches wither and the sap ascendeth no more, then below the stem or stock there grow many suckers; at last from the root twigs grow also, and transfigure the old tree, shewing that it also was once a green twig and young tree, and is now become old. For nature, or the sap, struggleth * so long till the stock groweth quite dry; and then it is to be cut down and burnt in the fire. * " struggleth " (wehret sich), " resisteth " or " persisteth "; the real meaning implies both renderings. St M. has, "se conserve." 7. Now observe what I have signified by this similitude: The garden of this tree signifieth the world; the soil or mould signifieth nature; the stock of the tree signifies the stars; by the branches are meant the elements; the fruit which grow on this tree signify men; the sap in the tree denoteth the pure Deity. Now men were made out of nature,** the stars, and elements; but God the Creator reigneth in all: even as the sap doth in the whole tree. ** "men were made out of nature," etc. Note by St Martin: "The author does not invariably use the word 'nature,' as applying to the actual and visible world." 8. But there are two qualities in nature, even until the Judgment of God: The one is pleasant, heavenly and holy; the other is fierce, wrathful, hellish and thirsty. 9. Now the good one qualifieth and worketh continually with all industry to bring forth good fruit, and the Holy Ghost reigneth therein, and affords thereunto sap and life: the bad one springeth and driveth with all its endeavour to bring forth bad fruit continually, to which the devil affordeth sap and hellish flame. Now both are in the tree of nature, and men are made out of that tree, and live in this world, in this garden, between both, in great danger; suddenly the sun shineth on them; by and by, winds, rain, and snow fall on them. 10. That is, if man elevateth his spirit into the Deity, then the Holy Ghost moveth, springeth and qualifieth in him: But if he permit his spirit to sink into the world, in lust towards evil, then the devil and hellish sap stir and reign in him. 11. Even as the apple on the tree become th corrupt, rotten and wormeaten, when frost, heat, and mildew fall on it, and easily falls off and perisheth: So doth man also when he suffers the devil to rule in him with his poison. 12. Now as in nature there are, spring up and reign, good and bad; even so in man: But man is the child of God, whom God hath made out of the best kernel of nature, to reign in the good, and to overcome the bad: Though evil sticketh unto man, even as in nature the evil hangeth on the good, yet he can overcome the evil if he elevateth his spirit in God; for then the Holy Ghost stirs and moveth in him, and helps him to overcome. 13. As the good quality in nature is potent to overcome the evil, for the good quality is and cometh from God, and the Holy Ghost is the Ruler therein, even so is the fierce wrathful quality powerful to overcome in a malicious wicked soul: For the devil is a potent ruler in the wrath * or fierceness, and is an eternal prince of the same. * " in the wrath," etc. Note by St Martin: " By the word 'wrath,' the author understands the eternal power itself, as separated from lore, justice and light." 14. But man, through the fall of Adam and Eve, hath cast himself into fierce wrathfulness, so that the evil hangeth on him; otherwise his moving and driving ** would be only in the good. But now his moving and driving are in both. And it is as St Paul saith, Know ye not, that to
cases where Sparrow uses the word "power," the original, Kraft, is best rendered by the word "virtue," as St Martin has done. 3. But when the tree bears few fruit, and those but small, shrivelled, rotten, and wormeaten, the fault does not lie in the will of the tree, as if it desired purposely to bear evil fruit, because it is a goodly tree of good quality. But here lies the fault: because there is often great cold, great heat, and mildew, caterpillars and other worms happen to it; for the quality in the deep, from the influence of the stars, spoils it, and that makes it bear but few good fruit. 4. Now the tree is of this condition, that the bigger and older it is, the sweeter fruit it bears: In its younger years it bears few fruit, which the crude and wild nature of the ground or earth causes, and the superfluous moisture in the tree: And though it bears many fair blossoms, yet the most of its apples fall off whilst they are growing; unless it stands in a very good soil or mould. Now this tree also has a good sweet quality; but there are three others, which are contrary to it, namely, the bitter, the sour, and the astringent. 5. As the tree is, so will its fruit be, till the sun works on them and makes them sweet; so that they become of a pleasant taste, and its fruit must also hold out in rain, wind and tempest. 6. But when the tree grows old, that its branches wither and the sap ascends no more, then below the stem or stock there grow many suckers; at last from the root twigs grow also, and transfigure the old tree, showing that it also was once a green twig and young tree, and is now become old. For nature, or the sap, struggls * so long till the stock grows quite dry; and then it is to be cut down and burnt in the fire. * " struggls " (wehret sich), " resists " or " persists "; the real meaning implies both renderings. St M. has, "se conserve." 7. Now observe what I have signified by this similitude: The garden of this tree signifies the world; the soil or mould signifies nature; the stock of the tree signifies the stars; by the branches are meant the elements; the fruit which grow on this tree signify men; the sap in the tree denots the pure Deity. Now men were made out of nature,** the stars, and elements; but God the Creator reigns in all: even as the sap does in the whole tree. ** "men were made out of nature," etc. Note by St Martin: "The author does not invariably use the word 'nature,' as applying to the actual and visible world." 8. But there are two qualities in nature, even until the Judgment of God: The one is pleasant, heavenly and holy; the other is fierce, wrathful, hellish and thirsty. 9. Now the good one qualifies and works continually with all industry to bring forth good fruit, and the Holy Ghost reigns therein, and affords thereunto sap and life: the bad one springs and drivs with all its endeavour to bring forth bad fruit continually, to which the devil affords sap and hellish flame. Now both are in the tree of nature, and men are made out of that tree, and live in this world, in this garden, between both, in great danger; suddenly the sun shines on them; by and by, winds, rain, and snow fall on them. 10. That is, if man elevats his spirit into the Deity, then the Holy Ghost moves, springs and qualifies in him: But if he permit his spirit to sink into the world, in lust towards evil, then the devil and hellish sap stir and reign in him. 11. Even as the apple on the tree become th corrupt, rotten and wormeaten, when frost, heat, and mildew fall on it, and easily falls off and perishes: So does man also when he suffers the devil to rule in him with his poison. 12. Now as in nature there are, spring up and reign, good and bad; even so in man: But man is the child of God, whom God has made out of the best kernel of nature, to reign in the good, and to overcome the bad: Though evil sticks unto man, even as in nature the evil hangs on the good, yet he can overcome the evil if he elevats his spirit in God; for then the Holy Ghost stirs and moves in him, and helps him to overcome. 13. As the good quality in nature is potent to overcome the evil, for the good quality is and comes from God, and the Holy Ghost is the Ruler therein, even so is the fierce wrathful quality powerful to overcome in a malicious wicked soul: For the devil is a potent ruler in the wrath * or fierceness, and is an eternal prince of the same. * " in the wrath," etc. Note by St Martin: " By the word 'wrath,' the author understands the eternal power itself, as separated from lore, justice and light." 14. But man, through the fall of Adam and Eve, has cast himself into fierce wrathfulness, so that the evil hangs on him; otherwise his moving and driving ** would be only in the good. But now his moving and driving are in both. And it is as St Paul says, Know you not, that to
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