| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Large Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther: upon him in any good that is his. Therefore it is explicitly forbidden
here to bring any disgrace upon him in respect to his wife. And it
really aims at adultery, because among the Jews it was ordained and
commanded that every one must be married. Therefore also the young were
early provided for [married], so that the virgin state was held in
small esteem, neither were public prostitution and lewdness tolerated
(as now). Therefore adultery was the most common form of unchastity
among them.
But because among us there is such a shameful mess and the very dregs
of all vice and lewdness, this commandment is directed also against all
manner of unchastity, whatever it may be called; and not only is the
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Pagan and Christian Creeds by Edward Carpenter: them, said: "Yes, I am longing to join you, but I am not going to
be such a fool as to go into the water TILL I KNOW HOW TO SWIM!"
There is nothing but practice. If you want to obtain that
priceless power of commanding Thought--of using it or dismissing
it (for the two things go together) at will--there is no
way but practice. And the practice consists in two exercises:
(a) that of concentration--in holding the thought steadily for
a time on one subject, or point of a subject; and (b) that of
effacement--in effacing any given thought from the mind, and
determining NOT to entertain it for such and such a time. Both
these exercises are difficult. Failure in practicing them is
Pagan and Christian Creeds |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne: day the sulphate of quinine was administered to Herbert every three hours.
The next day some improvement in Herbert's condition was apparent.
Certainly, he was not out of danger, intermittent fevers being subject to
frequent and dangerous relapses, but the most assiduous care was bestowed
on him. And besides, the specific was at hand; nor, doubtless, was he who
had brought it far distant! And the hearts of all were animated by
returning hope.
This hope was not disappointed. Ten days after, on the 20th of December,
Herbert's convalescence commenced.
He was still weak, and strict diet had been imposed upon him, but no
access of fever supervened. And then, the poor boy submitted with such
The Mysterious Island |
