{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/002/0020024.htm","path":"chr/ecf/002/0020024.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/002/0020024.htm","text":"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, \u201cWhat is it that you are thinking about the elm and vine?\u201d \u201cI am considering,\u201d I reply, \u201cthat they become each other exceedingly well.\u201d \u201cThese two trees,\u201d he continues, \u201care intended as an example for the servants of God.\u201d \u201cI would like to know,\u201d said I, \u201cthe example which these trees you say, are intended to teach.\u201d \u201cDo you see,\u201d he says, \u201cthe elm and the vine?\u201d \u201cI see them sir,\u201d I replied. \u201cThis vine,\u201d he continued, \u201cproduces 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 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,\u201d 252 he continued, \u201cthe 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 therefore, is for the servants of God\u2014for the poor man and for the rich.\u201d \u201cHow so, sir?\u201d said I; \u201cexplain the matter to me.\u201d \u201cListen,\u201d he said: \u201cThe 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 refreshes 254 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\u2014because the poor man is rich in intercession and confession, and his intercession has great power with God\u2014then 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 influential 255 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 ]\u201d\nThe Vatican reads: \u201cUnless 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.\u201d\n32:252\nThe Vatican here makes Hermas interrupt the Shepherd, and ask, \u201cHow greater than the vine?\u201d\n32:253\n[Based on Jas. i. 9-11, 27, and ii. 1\u20139: introducing the heathen world to just ideas of human brotherhood, and the mutual relations of the poor and the rich.]\n32:254\nThe translation of the text is based on the Palatine. Lips. Reads: \u201cWhen the rich man fills out upon the poor.\u201d Hilgenfeld amends this: \u201cWhen the rich man recovers breath upon the poor.\u201d Neither gives sense. The \u00c6thiopic has: \u201cBut if the rich man lean on the poor;\u201d and the Greek of Hilgenfeld might mean: \u201cWhen the rich man recovers his breath by leaning on the poor.\u201d The Vatican is quite different: \u201cWhen, 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\u2019s 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).\u201d\n32:255\n[I note this use of the word \u201cinfluential,\u201d because it was formerly denounced as an Americanism.]\n32:256\n[Luke xii. 42.]\n32:257\nThe sentence in brackets is not in Lips. It is taken from Pal.","title":"Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol II: THE PASTOR OF HERMAS: Similitude Second. As the Vine is Supported by the Elm, So is the Rich Man Helped by the Prayer of the Poor.","type":"page"}