| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Smalcald Articles by Dr. Martin Luther: that God has imparted to the water a spiritual power, which
through the water washes away sin. Nor [do we agree] with
Scotus and the Barefooted monks [Minorites or Franciscan
monks], who teach that, by the assistance of the divine will,
Baptism washes away sins, and that this ablution occurs only
through the will of God, and by no means through the Word or
water. Of the baptism of children we hold that children ought
to be baptized. For they belong to the promised redemption
made through Christ, and the Church should administer it
[Baptism and the announcement of that promise] to them.
VI. Of the Sacrament of the Altar.
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Garden Party by Katherine Mansfield: empty drawing-room before that confounded bell had stopped ringing.
Strangely enough, when it did, the big room, shadowy, with some one's
parasol lying on top of the grand piano, bucked him up--or rather, excited
him. It was so quiet, and yet in one moment the door would open, and his
fate be decided. The feeling was not unlike that of being at the
dentist's; he was almost reckless. But at the same time, to his immense
surprise, Reggie heard himself saying, "Lord, Thou knowest, Thou hast not
done much for me..." That pulled him up; that made him realize again how
dead serious it was. Too late. The door handle turned. Anne came in,
crossed the shadowy space between them, gave him her hand, and said, in her
small, soft voice, "I'm so sorry, father is out. And mother is having a
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from A Book of Remarkable Criminals by H. B. Irving: asked `What have you seen?' If he can only testify to mere talk,
and hearsay, he is not heard." He quoted the concluding
paragraph of the will of Auguste Ballet as showing his friendly
feeling towards Castaing: "It is only after careful reflection
that I have made this final disposition of my property, in order
to mark the sincere friendship which I have never for one moment
ceased to feel for MM. Castaing, Briant and Leuchere, in order
to recognise the faithful loyalty of my servants, and deprive M.
and Mme. Martignon, my brother-in-law and sister, of all rights
to which they might be legally entitled on my death, fully
persuaded in soul and conscience that, in doing so, I am giving
A Book of Remarkable Criminals |
