| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Enemies of Books by William Blades: (among which were several Caxtons) to the Exhibition at
South Kensington. Thinking their outward appearance too shabby,
and not knowing the danger of his conduct, he decided
to have them rebound in the neighbouring county town.
The volumes were soon returned in a resplendent state, and,
it is said, quite to the satisfaction of his lordship,
whose pleasure, however, was sadly damped when a friend
pointed out to him that, although the discoloured edges had
all been ploughed off, and the time-stained blanks, with their
fifteenth century autographs, had been replaced by nice clean
fly-leaves, yet, looking at the result in its lowest aspect only--
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Seraphita by Honore de Balzac: curiosity of children. You, my poor Monsieur Becker, have asked
yourself how it was possible that a girl of seventeen should know even
a single one of those secrets which men of science seek with their
noses to the earth,--instead of raising their eyes to heaven. Were I
to tell you how and at what point the plant merges into the animal you
would begin to doubt your doubts. You have plotted to question me; you
will admit that?"
"Yes, dear Seraphita," answered Wilfrid; "but the desire is a natural
one to men, is it not?"
"You will bore this dear child with such topics," she said, passing
her hand lightly over Minna's hair with a caressing gesture.
Seraphita |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Large Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther: further to be said of it belongs to another time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, since we have now the true understanding and doctrine of
the Sacrament, there is indeed need of some admonition and exhortation,
that men may not let so great a treasure which is daily administered
and distributed among Christians pass by unheeded, that is, that those
who would be Christians make ready to receive this venerable Sacrament
often. For we see that men seem weary and lazy with respect to it; and
there is a great multitude of such as hear the Gospel, and, because the
nonsense of the Pope has been abolished, and we are freed from his laws
and coercion, go one, two, three years, or even longer without the
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