NEUOFFENBARUNG← Gifts of Heaven · Volume 3 · Contents
About the wisdom and goodness fo God – a little parable
1st June 1847
[1] There was a landlord who had a large garden with many and various fruit trees. Among these were some that carried an early mature fruit, others carried a fruit that ripened a little later, and others carried an even later one. And finally, there were also trees that brought their fruit to moderate ripeness only very late, and it therefore had to wait half the winter until it was edible.
[2] But this landlord also had many servants and several children. But he treated the children and the servants alike, and sent them diligently into the great garden to wait for the trees, and to see how the fruit fared, and whether here and there something ripe showed itself.
[3] The children and servants fulfilled exactly the will of the house-father. And when they discovered some ripe fruit on the early trees, they ran hastily and joyfully to the house-father and told him.
[4] Then the house-father went out and looked at the several fruits of the early trees, which had ripened very early, and commanded the servants to take them down and give them to the children, who were already looking forward to them very much.
[5] And the servants did according to the word of the house-father. And when the children tasted these first fruits of the early trees, they made sour and teary faces, and spoke to the father: "Truly, with this fruit our toil is not rewarded! The fruit looks quite splendid and beautiful, but appearances are deceiving here.
[6] And the house-father spoke: "So leave this fruit and wait a few more days until the embers of the sun seasoned it more! Then it will certainly be more delicious. For we have known for a long time now that the first fruits are nowhere much appraised.
[7] And the servants and children were satisfied with these instructions and left the garden with the father of the house. After a few days, however, they returned to the garden and found a lot of ripe early fruit and went and showed it to the house-father. And immediately he went out with them into the garden, and looked at the fruit, and said to the servants: 'Now go and fetch all kinds of baskets of the different kinds, that they may not be mixed together. And bring down all that is fully ripe, that we may then have a proper meal!'
[8] And the servants did as the father of the house commanded them. And when the fruit was loosed and put on the large table in the house, the householder blessed it. And the children and the servants sat down at the same table and took the fruit and ate it with great pleasure – and were satisfied.
[9] But when they were full, they thanked their father and spoke: "Father! Now the fruit really has a much better taste. But see, there is so much now that the good taste is lost in the end because of the quantity and the resulting over-saturation! Would it not then be better if the first fruits were as tasty as this fully ripe fruit? What refreshment would they give!
[10] But the house-father spoke: "You are right! But know what is to be done? See, firstly a right moderation! And secondly, proper patience! Never take fruit from the trees before it is fully ripe, and then only as much as is necessary for a unique need! Therefore, we want to observe this rule with the second kind of fruit, and then everything will taste very well to you.
[11] And behold, the second kind of fruit ripened, and the rule of the house-father was observed. And all the fruit tasted good to the children and servants! It was the same with the third kind.
[12] But when the latest species reached maturity, the children and servants spoke to the house- father: "Behold, the days are getting cold, and the last fruit hangs very abundantly on the trees,
looks good, but if you taste it, it's acidity makes your mouth tighten, so that you lose all desire to take a second piece of fruit. But what should we do?"
[13] And the master of the house spoke: "So the course of time is completed! I know well that this last and latest species could not reach full maturity on the tree, since the light and warmth have already decreased so much and the nights have become long and the days short and cold. Nevertheless, we do not want to let the fruits that have not reached full ripeness become the prey of the winter that kills everything on the trees, but go and fetch me all sorts of vessels for the different kinds and remove this late fruit from the trees with fourfold caution! We want to leave this fruit in warmed rooms, and then it will be better than all the previous varieties, which have already reached full ripeness on the trees through the summer glow.
[14] And children and servants did as the householder commanded them. And behold, it was good; and winter, when it came, found nothing but leaves on the trees, but he found no fruit to kill them.
[15] And so in the end everything was still good. And children and servants praised wisdom and goodness of the house-father.
[16] What sense this little story has – think about it in your heart, so that you may learn from the image of nature how the mysteries of God are ordered.
[17] But do not be too hasty with your opinion! For no tree of importance falls in one blow! After some time I will give you the revelation for this. Amen.