The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from A treatise on Good Works by Dr. Martin Luther: it is also in all the other Commandments, and without such faith
liberality is of no worth, but rather a careless squandering of
money.
IV. By this we are also to know that this liberality shall extend
even to enemies and opponents. For what manner of good deed is
that, if we are liberal only to our friends? As Christ teaches,
Luke vi, even a wicked man does that to another who is his
friend. Besides, the brute beasts also do good and are generous
to their kind. Therefore a Christian must rise higher, let his
liberality serve also the undeserving, evil-doers, enemies, and
the ungrateful, even as his heavenly Father makes His sun to rise
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The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from Love and Friendship by Jane Austen: last left off that ridiculous custom of applauding my Execution
on the Harpsichord till you made my head ake, and yourself
hoarse. I feel very much obliged to you for keeping your
admiration to yourself." I never shall forget the very witty
answer I made to this speech. "Eloisa (said I) I beg you would
be quite at your Ease with respect to all such fears in future,
for be assured that I shall always keep my admiration to myself
and my own pursuits and never extend it to yours." This was the
only very severe thing I ever said in my Life; not but that I
have often felt myself extremely satirical but it was the only
time I ever made my feelings public.
Love and Friendship |