Chapter XVI.
How the voice of the Lord suddenly caused every kind of shrub to sprout forth, providing sustenance, delight, and medicine. Also, how all plants contain either a seed or something that serves as a substitute for seed within themselves. About the great power of God in each one; specifically about the pine and the myrtle.
65. And if usually the crops are more abundant and green beans flourish, and the multitude of gardens is awakened and revived, then the grace also comes alive when the banks of overflowing rivers are decorated with green beds; just as, according to the word of the Lord, when the abundance of water overflows, all the creatures of the shrubs suddenly bloom. The fields hurried to produce the fruit that was not given to them, the unknown varieties of garden vegetables germinated, the miracles of flowers bloomed, and the banks of the rivers clothed themselves in myrtles: the trees hurried to rise quickly, to put on flower quickly, to provide sustenance for humans and food for cattle. The common fruit is for everyone, and its use is given to everyone. Both the trees produced different things - one for us to eat, the other to protect us from the heat of the sun with its refreshing shade. Food is found in the fruit, while the enjoyment comes from the leaves. However, because the Creator's foresight knew that human greed would claim the fruit for itself, provision was made for other creatures to have their own special nourishment. Thus, there is not insignificant food in the leaves and the bark of the trees, which are also used for medicinal purposes, such as juices, tears, and small branches. Therefore, those things which we have known to be useful after experience, practice, and example, the Creator in the beginning gave for our benefit, commanding them to go forth from the depths of the earth by His own majesty.
And because the Lord commanded that the earth should bring forth grass, herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after its kind, whose seed is in itself (lest perhaps anyone should say that in many trees there is neither fruit nor seed, and the divine commandment may be considered to waver in any way from the truth), let him take notice that it cannot possibly be that all things which bring forth do not make use of seeds or that they have anything which appears to agree with the power of seeds. And if anyone carefully considers this, they will be able to comprehend it by clear evidence. Willow trees do not seem to have seeds; however, they have in their leaves a certain grain that has the power of a seed, so that when it is planted in the earth, it may appear as a tree growing from a twig, and as if it were awakened from a seed. From that grain, the root first grows: from the root sprouts not only a willow tree, but also a whole forest of trees similar to this kind. And the generation of the root also has the power of a seed; hence, many have propagated their memory through this sowing of it.
67. Great is the power of God in individuals. Let no one be surprised that great power of God is spoken of in small things. For he himself said that his great power is in locusts and a gnat, because the offense against divine majesty was resolved with great moderation of Jewish sterility and poverty. For patience is great power, and providence is great power. Indeed, those who harmed the Creator of the earth were unworthy of using earthly fertility. And truly great is he who avenges such a great impiety with miserable hunger. Therefore, if God has generated a barren thorn bush with great power, how much more will he procreate with great power those things that are fruitful!
68. Who, seeing the pine tree, is not amazed at such a divine art, unknown and impressed on nature: how, from its very core, it rises evenly with measurements at varying distances, nourishing its own fruits with glue? Thus, through its circumference, the same species and order are maintained, and in each branch, some plentiful offspring of nuts abound, and the fruit and grace return in a circle. Thus, in this pine tree, it seems to express an image of its own nature, which keeps the privileges received from that first divine and celestial command, and returns its own offspring with a certain order and cycle of years, until the fulfillment of time is complete.
69. But just as in this fruit it marks a pleasing appearance of itself, so also in myrtles, that is, low shrubs, it expresses the form of wicked cunning. For just as men have a double heart everywhere, and display grace and simplicity among the good, and are glued to the most corrupt: so also in watery and desert places, these shrubs grow in a contrary manner. Hence Jeremiah compared doubtful and insincere morals to myrtles (Jer. XVII, 6).