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They might offer death, and teach those who were able to die; and soon, fifty days having passed, the breeze of the heavenly spirit brought down a draught of divine nectar from the highest peak onto the branches. The heavy foliage dripped everywhere with sweet dew. Behold, beneath the vast shade of the branches’ canopy was a fountain, serene, with no disturbance marring it, its waters clear and without mud; and the grasses round about poured forth joyful colors from the various dew. Around this fountain, innumerable nations and peoples gathered—how varied in kind, sex, age, and rank! Unmarried and married women together, widows and daughters-in-law, infants and boys, men, both the young and the old. Here, where they strove to reach with eager right hands the branches bent down by many kinds of fruit, they rejoiced in the fruits moist with heavenly nectar. Nor could they pluck these with longing palms before the foul, muddy tracks of their former way deterred them, and they washed their bodies in the holy fountain.

Therefore, wandering long upon the soft grass, they look up at the fruits hanging from the high tree. Then they feed upon the husks fallen from those branches and the sweet leaves dripping with much nectar, desiring to take the true fruits. Therefore, when their mouths received the heavenly flavor, they change their spirits and lose their greedy minds; often indeed many, renewed in their minds, restored their sick souls, and where they once said they could not, they endured, and received the fruit of their labor. Many also, having dared to touch the holy minds, departed again suddenly and, having slipped backward, are rolled, mixed in that same filth and mire.

But many, bearing it with a good heart, receive it with their whole souls, and hide it deep within their vitals. Therefore, those who are able to approach the sacred fountains, the seventh light brings them to the longed-for waters; they bathe their fasting limbs in the clear springs. Thus at last they lay aside the filth of the mind and the stain of their former way, and lead back from death pure and illustrious souls, destined for the threshold of heaven. From here is the path to the branches and sweet fruits of salvation; from there, the path to heaven through the branches of the tall tree. This is the tree of life for all who believe. Amen.