It becomes evident that only those who do not care about truth and who have no compassion can enjoy with good conscience offices with pagan lordship; authority becomes in their hand the law of injustice, enabling them to do what they want, not allowing their conscience to interfere with their willfulness.[401] [ The only precaution they take is that all iniquities and every violence are done according to the letter of the law. ] To them can be rightly applied the parable of the trees found in the Jewish Law which says:
Once upon a time the trees set out to anoint a king over themselves; so they said to the olive tree, “Reign over us.” But the olive tree said to them, “Do I lack my rich oil with which gods and men are honored, that I should go begging to the trees?” Then the trees said to the fig tree, “Do you come and reign over us.” But the fig tree said to them, “Do I lack my sweetness and good fruit that I should go begging to the trees? Then the trees said to the vine, “Do you come and reign over us.” But the vine said to them, “Do I lack my wine, which cheers gods and men, that I should go begging to the trees? Finally the trees said to the thorn, “Do you come and reign over us.” But the thorn said to the trees, “If in good faith you are anointing me as king over you, come and take shelter in my shade; but if not, fire shall burst forth from the thorn, and consume the cedars of Lebanon!”[402]
CHAPTER 37
THE LAW OF MEN AND THE LAW OF CHRIST (CONTINUED)
First, the trees came to the olive tree asking it to reign over them; but the olive tree refused; it has substance suitable in men’s food and useful in medicines. It signifies men abounding in divine grace who are filled with the Spirit and who are the medicine for the sorrows and sufferings of men. The fig tree has delicious fruit that contains both little seeds as well as honey; it signifies the loving brotherhood in which a multitude becomes one body of Christ.[403] The vine contains satisfaction and joy; it signifies good conscience pertaining to communion at a divine feast, for only there conscience is a constant feast and the mind in safety. That is why all these tasty fruit trees refused to rule and to be exalted above other wild (fruit-less) trees lest they lose their fat substance, sweetness, and consolation.
Let us see what many useful things this parable can show us. [ People who are partakers of the gifts of God will not forfeit these for the sake of temporal advantages, prestige, and authority, seeing that these ‘advantages’ entail violence and cruelty. ] But the true word of God says, “The earth is the Lord’s and its fullness, that is, its mountains, and valleys, and all regions.”[404] God is the only rightful ruler of this earth.
