| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Mansion by Henry van Dyke: John Weightman joined in some of the songs--which were familiar
to him
from their use in the church--at first with a touch of
hesitation,
and then more confidently. For as they went on his sense of
strangeness and fear at his new experience diminished, and his
thoughts
began to take on their habitual assurance and complacency. Were
not these
people going to the Celestial City? And was not he in his right
place
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: shalt store all up for thyself, with things fleeting and
transient purchasing for thyself things that are stable and
enduring. Afterwards, God working with thee, thou shalt perceive
the uncertainty and inconstancy of the world, and saying farewell
to all, shalt remove thy barque to anchor in the future, and,
passing by the things that pass away, thou shalt hold to the
things that we look for, the things that abide. Thou shalt
depart from darkness and the shadow of death, and hate the world
and the ruler of the world; and, counting thy perishable flesh
thine enemy, thou shalt run toward the light that is
unapproachable, and taking the Cross on thy shoulders, shalt
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