| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians by Martin Luther: opponents demand as long as faith and doctrine remain pure and
uncorrupt. The Apostle James says, "For whosoever shall keep the whole
law and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." This passage supports
us over against our critics who claim that we disregard all charity to the
great injury of the churches. We protest we desire nothing more than
peace with all men. If they would only permit us to keep our doctrine of
faith! The pure doctrine takes precedence before charity, apostles, or an
angel from heaven.
Let others praise charity and concord to the skies; we magnify the
authority of the Word and faith. Charity may be neglected at times
without peril, but not the Word and faith. Charity suffers all things, it
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Snow Image by Nathaniel Hawthorne: there appeared nothing very remarkable in his aspect, which was
that of a man in a coarse brown, country-made suit of clothes,
tall and thin, with the staff and heavy shoes of a wayfarer. As
he advanced, he fixed his eyes--which were very bright--intently
upon the brightness of the furnace, as if he beheld, or expected
to behold, some object worthy of note within it.
"Good evening, stranger," said the lime-burner; "whence come you,
so late in the day?"
"I come from my search," answered the wayfarer; "for, at last, it
is finished."
"Drunk!--or crazy!" muttered Bartram to himself. "I shall have
The Snow Image |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The $30,000 Bequest and Other Stories by Mark Twain: and speaking, said:
"For liars a place is appointed. There they burn in the fires
of hell from everlasting unto everlasting. Repent!"
The bereaved fell upon their knees before him and clasped their
hands and bowed their gray heads, adoring. But their tongues
clove to the roof of their mouths, and they were dumb.
"Speak! that I may bear the message to the chancery of heaven
and bring again the decree from which there is no appeal."
Then they bowed their heads yet lower, and one said:
"Our sin is great, and we suffer shame; but only perfect and final
repentance can make us whole; and we are poor creatures who have learned
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