________________
CHAPTER XV, 123–143.
unrestricted (atang) is the tree of merit (kirfak) to produce the fruit of offensiveness. (bazak), nor yet that of offensiveness as to the fruit of merit?' 133. This, too, he said, that'he either makes the whole tree with fruit of merit, or the whole tree with fruit of offensiveness, (134) for every tree becomes manifest by its fruit, if it be of merit and if it be of offensiveness 3. 135. And the whole tree was mentioned by him, not half the tree. 136. Now, how is it suitable for half a tree to be light and half dark, (137) half merit and half offensiveness, (138) half truth and half falsehood ? 139. When these remain both competing together, (140) they cannot become one tree.
141. And, again, a Jewish sect was called by him 'the hill-serpent of the Jews*,' (142) and he spoke thus : 'How is it possible for you to do good works when you are Jewish evil-doers ?' 143. And it was not his own father he called an evil-doer.
1' A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit' (Mat. vii. 18).
* Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit' (Mat. vii. 17).
3 For every tree is known by his own fruit : for of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes’ (Luke vi. 44).
''But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?... Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers ! how can ye escape the damnation of hell ?' (Mat. iii. 7; xxiii. 33).
0.0 generation of vipers ! how can ye, being evil, speak good things?' (Mat. xii. 34).
. As he would have implied if he considered him the father of those Jews. The author is still arguing that the New Testament really confirms the existence of two creators.
[24]
Digitized by Google