The trees once went out to appoint an inquisitor over them to find heretics and protect their congregations, and they said to the olive tree, “Reign over us.” But the olive tree said to them, “Shall I leave my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, and go hold sway over the trees? Should I make their leaves shake in the winds of fear and find reason to accuse and malign?” And the trees said to the fig tree, “You come and reign over us.” But the fig tree said to them, “Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go hold sway over the trees? Should I make their leaves shake in the winds of fear and find reason to accuse and malign?” And the trees said to the vine, “You come and reign over us.” But the vine said to them, “Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men and go hold sway over the trees? Should I make their leaves shake in the winds of fear and find reason to accuse and malign?” Then all the trees said to the bramble, “You come and reign over us.” And the bramble said to the trees, “If in good faith you are appointing me inquisitor over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.” And the bramble also said, “Come and see my instruments by which I will ensure the trees conform to the measure of sound doctrine.”

And he showed them the hammer, ax, and saw.