Sermon XXII. [LXXII. Ben.] On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xii. 33, “Either make the tree good, and its fruit good,” etc. 1. The Lord Jesus hath admonished us, that we be good trees, and that so we may be able to bear good fruits. For He saith, “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good, or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt, for the tree is known by his fruit.”2484 When He says, “Make the tree good, and his fruit good;” this of course is not an admonition, but a wholesome precept, to which obedience is necessary. But when He saith, “Make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt;” this is not a precept that thou shouldest do it; but an admon- ition, that thou shouldest beware of it. For He spoke against those, who thought that although they were evil, they could speak good things or have good works. This the Lord Jesus saith is impossible. For the man himself must first be changed, in order that his works may be changed. For if a man abide in his evil state, he cannot have good works; if he abide in his good state, he cannot have evil works. 2. But who was found good by the Lord, since “Christ died for the ungodly”?2485 He found them all corrupt trees, but to those who “believed in His Name, He gave power to become the sons of God.”2486 Whosoever then now is a good man, that is, a good tree, was found corrupt, and made good. And if when He came He had chosen to root up the corrupt trees, what tree would have remained which did not deserve to be rooted up? But He came first to impart2487 mercy, that He might afterwards exercise judgment, to whom it is said, “I will sing unto Thee O Lord, of mercy and judgment.”2488 He gave then remission of sins to those who believed in Him, He would not even take account with them of past reckon- ings.2489 He gave remission of sins, He made them good trees. He delayed the ax, He gave2490 security. 3. Of this ax does John speak, saying, “Now is the ax laid unto the root of the trees; every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down, and cast into the fire.”2491 With this ax does the Householder in the Gospel threaten, saying, “Behold these three years I come to this tree, and find no fruit on it.” Now I must clear2492 the ground; wherefore let 2484 Matt. xii. 33. 2485 Rom. v. 6. 2486 John i. 12. 2487 Prærogare. 2488 Ps. ci. 1. 2489 Chartis. 2490 Distulit securim, dedit securitatem. 2491 Matt. iii. 10. 2492 Evacuare. On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xii. 33, ‘Either make the tree good, and its fruit good,’ etc. 700 On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xii. 33, ‘Either make the tree good, and…