12 The naked stalks had put forth branch and leaf, and heavy clusters of delicious grapes weighed every branch to earth. 13 The gatherers rejoiced as, day by day, they carried the rich fruitage to the press. 14 Behold, the vineyard of the Lord! the earth is spread with human vines. 15 The gorgeous forms and rites of men are branches, and their words are leaves; and these have grown so great that sunlight can no longer reach the heart; there is no fruit. 16 Behold, the pruner comes, and with a two-edged knife he cuts away the branches and the leaves of words, 17 And naught is left but unclothed stalks of human life. 18 The priests and they of pompous show, rebuke the pruner, and would stay him in his work. 19 They see no beauty in the stalks of human life; no promises of fruit. 20 The harvest time will come and they who scorned the pruner will look on again and be amazed, for they will see the human stalks that seemed so lifeless, bending low with precious fruit. 21 And they will hear the harvesters rejoice, because the harvest is so great. 22 The priests were not well pleased with Jesus’ words; but they rebuked him not; they feared the multitude. CHAPTER 35. _Jesus and Vidyapati consider the needs of the incoming age of the world._ The Indian sage and Jesus often met and talked about the needs of nations and of men; about the sacred doctrines, forms and rites best suited to the coming age. 2 One day they sat together in a mountain pass, and Jesus said, The coming age will surely not require priests, and shrines, and sacrifice of life. 3 There is no power in sacrifice of beast, or bird, to help a man to holy life. 4 And Vidyapati said, All forms and rites are symbols of the things that men must do within the temple of the soul. 5 The Holy One requires man to give his life in willing sacrifice for men, and all the so-called offerings on altars and on shrines that have been made since time began, were made to teach man how to give himself to save his brother man; for man can never save himself except he lose his life in saving other men. 6 The perfect age will not require forms and rites and carnal sacrifice. The coming age is not the perfect age, and men will call for object lessons and symbolic rites. 7 And in the great religion you shall introduce to men, some simple rites of washings and remembrances will be required; but cruel sacrifice of animals, and birds the gods require not. 8 And Jesus said, Our God must loathe the tinseled show of priests and priestly things. 9 When men array themselves in showy garbs to indicate that they are servants of the gods, and strut about like gaudy birds to be admired by men, because of piety or any other thing, the Holy One must surely turn away in sheer disgust. 10 All people are alike the servants of our Father-God, are kings and priests.