The Axe And The Trees

Jam enim securis ad radices arborum posita est. Arbor hujus mundi est universum genus humanum. Securis vero est Redemptor noster, qui velut ex manubrio et ferro constat, teneturque ex humanitate, sed incidit ex divinitate. Quae videlicet securis jam ad radicem arboris istius posita est. Quia etsi per patientiam exspectat, videtur tamen quid factura est. Potest et securis nomine praedicatio sermonis evangelici intelligi. Quia secundum Apostolum: Vivus est sermo Dei et efficax, et penetrabilior omni galdio ancipiti et pertingens usque ad divisonem animae et spiritus, compagum quoque et medullarum et discretor cogitationum. Et Jeremiae propheta verbum Domini securi comparat caedenti petram. Sive securis sententiam Judicis altissimi signifcat, quae ad radices arborum, id est, ad finem regni populi Judaiei posita est, ut eos qui in Christum credere noluerunt, de terra viventium abscindat. Omnis ergo arbor quae non facit fructum bonum exscindetur, et in ignem mittetur. Quatuor quidem species in lignorum generibus inveniuntur, quorum profecto una tota arida est, altera viridis, sed sine fructu, tertia veridis, fructuosa, sed venenosa, quarta vero viridis est et fructum bonum gignit. In his ergo quatuor differentiis arborum, quatour hominum species demonstrantur, id est, paganorum, hypocritarum, haereticorum et fidelium Christianorum. Pagani itaque aridis arboribus assimilantur, qui aeterno incendio sunt apti. Hypocritae viridibus lignis, sed sine fructu manentibus, qui simulatam pietatem foris ostendunt, sed fructu carent. Haeretici quoque viridibus et fructuosis arboribus, sed tamen venenosis comparantur, quia licet praedicando vel scribendo fructum parere videantur, non vitalem tamen, sed mortiferum gustantibus cibum ferunt. Porro boni Catholici viridibus lignis et bonum fructum gignentibus rite adaequantur, quia in viriditate sanctae religionis sedulo permanentes, bonorum operum fructus ferre non desinunt. Rabanus Maurus, Commentariorum In Matthaeum, Liber I Source: Migne PL 107.771b-d

For now the axe has been placed against the root of the trees. 1 The tree of this world is the whole human race. The axe is our Redeemer, who is fashioned as from the shaft and iron, and He is grasped by His humanity but He cuts by His Divinity. Which axe certainly now has been placed against the root of this tree. Because even if He waits patiently, yet what shall be done is evident. And it is possible to understand the axe as the preaching of the evangelical word. Because according to the Apostle: 'For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.' 2 And the Prophet Jeremiah compares the word of the Lord to an axe striking a stone. 3 Or the axe means the sentence of the highest Judge, which is set against the roots of the trees, that is, for the end of the kingdom of the Jewish people, since those who shall be unwilling to be believe in Christ, shall be cut off from the land of the living. 'Therefore every tree which does not give good fruit shall be cut down and sent into fire.' 1 There are found to be four types among the varities of trees, of which certainly one is utterly withered, another green but without fruit, the third green and fruitful but poisonous, the fourth green and a giver of good fruits. Therefore in these differences of the four trees, the four types of men are demonstrated, that is, the pagan, the hypocrite, the heretic, and the faithful Christian. Pagans are like withered trees, who are fitting for eternal fire. Hypocrites are like green trees, but without any lasting fruit, because they exhibit but an exterior simulation of piety and they give no fruit. The heretics are like green and fruitful trees, but they are as poison, because seeming to bear fruit in their preaching and writing, it does not give life but they bear sustenance the taste of which brings death. However, good Catholics are like green trees that give good fruit, because persisting diligently in the greeness of holy relgion they do not neglect to bring forth the fruit of good works. Rabanus Maurus, Commentary On The Gospel of Saint Matthew, Book 1 1 Mt 3.10 2 Heb 4.12 3 Jerem 46.22 Vetus Latina