| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Wrecker by Stevenson & Osbourne: mutton, the remainder cakes from breakfast eaten cold, and a
starveling pot of coffee.
"I beg your pardon, Mrs. Pinkerton," said I. "Sorry to inflict my
presence where it cannot be desired; but there is a piece of
business necessary to be discussed."
"Pray do not consider me," said Mamie, rising, and she sailed
into the adjoining bedroom.
Jim watched her go and shook his head; he looked miserably
old and ill.
"What is it, now?" he asked.
"Perhaps you remember you answered none of my questions,"
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Lesser Hippias by Plato: SOCRATES: And what would you say of any other bodily exercise--is not he
who is better made able to do both that which is strong and that which is
weak--that which is fair and that which is foul?--so that when he does bad
actions with the body, he who is better made does them voluntarily, and he
who is worse made does them involuntarily.
HIPPIAS: Yes, that appears to be true about strength.
SOCRATES: And what do you say about grace, Hippias? Is not he who is
better made able to assume evil and disgraceful figures and postures
voluntarily, as he who is worse made assumes them involuntarily?
HIPPIAS: True.
SOCRATES: Then voluntary ungracefulness comes from excellence of the
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Koran: is a disgrace for them in this world, and for them in the next is
mighty woe; save for those who repent before ye have them in your
power, for know ye that God is forgiving, merciful.
O ye who believe! fear God and crave the means to approach Him,
and be strenuous in His way, haply ye will prosper then.
Verily, those who disbelieve, even though they had what is in the
earth, all of it, and the like thereof with it, to offer as a ransom
from the punishment of the resurrection day, it would not be
accepted from them; but for them is grievous woe. They may wish to
go forth from the Fire, but they shall not go forth therefrom, for
them is lasting woe.
The Koran |
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 Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians by Martin Luther: die unto the Law, is to live unto God. These two propositions go against
reason. No law-worker can ever understand them. But see to it that you
understand them. The Law can never justify and save a sinner. The Law
can only accuse, terrify, and kill him. Therefore to live unto the Law is to
die unto God. Vice versa, to die unto the Law is to live unto God. If you
want to live unto God, bury the Law, and find life through faith in Christ
Jesus.
We have enough arguments right here to conclude that justification is by
faith alone. How can the Law effect our justification, when Paul so plainly
states that we must be dead to the Law if we want to live unto God? If we
are dead to the Law and the Law is dead to us, how can it possibly
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