| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Parmenides by Plato: dialogue. He then proceeds to explain to him the sort of mental gymnastic
which he should practise. He should consider not only what would follow
from a given hypothesis, but what would follow from the denial of it, to
that which is the subject of the hypothesis, and to all other things.
There is no trace in the Memorabilia of Xenophon of any such method being
attributed to Socrates; nor is the dialectic here spoken of that 'favourite
method' of proceeding by regular divisions, which is described in the
Phaedrus and Philebus, and of which examples are given in the Politicus and
in the Sophist. It is expressly spoken of as the method which Socrates had
heard Zeno practise in the days of his youth (compare Soph.).
The discussion of Socrates with Parmenides is one of the most remarkable
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Large Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther: its uncleanness, and will come forth gloriously, and arise to entire
and perfect holiness in a new eternal life. For now we are only half
pure and holy, so that the Holy Ghost has ever [some reason why] to
continue His work in us through the Word, and daily to dispense
forgiveness, until we attain to that life where there will be no more
forgiveness, but only perfectly pure and holy people, full of godliness
and righteousness, removed and free from sin, death, and all evil, in a
new, immortal, and glorified body.
Behold, all this is to be the office and work of the Holy Ghost, that
He begin and daily increase holiness upon earth by means of these two
things, the Christian Church and the forgiveness of sin. But in our
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