| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Concerning Christian Liberty by Martin Luther: a belief in works as the means of justification. This is a thing
which easily happens, and defiles very many, unless faith be
constantly inculcated along with works. It is impossible to avoid
this evil, when faith is passed over in silence, and only the
ordinances of men are taught, as has been done hitherto by the
pestilent, impious, and soul-destroying traditions of our
pontiffs and opinions of our theologians. An infinite number of
souls have been drawn down to hell by these snares, so that you
may recognise the work of antichrist.
In brief, as poverty is imperilled amid riches, honesty amid
business, humility amid honours, abstinence amid feasting, purity
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson by Robert Louis Stevenson: jelly for the last, you know, as you would often recommend in
former days, so now you can take your own medicine.
I am very sorry to hear you have been so poorly; I have been very
well; it used to be quite the other way, used it not? Do you
remember making the whistle at Mount Chessie? I do not think it
WAS my knife; I believe it was yours; but rhyme is a very great
monarch, and goes before honesty, in these affairs at least. Do
you remember, at Warriston, one autumn Sunday, when the beech nuts
were on the ground, seeing heaven open? I would like to make a
rhyme of that, but cannot.
Is it not strange to think of all the changes: Bob, Cramond,
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Ursula by Honore de Balzac: When Goupil reached Nemours, Ursula had just been carried down from
her chamber to the ground-floor in the arms of La Bougival and the
doctor. A great event was about to take place. When Madame de
Portenduere became really aware that the girl was dying like an
ermine, though less injured in her honor than Clarissa Harlowe, she
resolved to go to her and comfort her. The sight of her son's anguish,
who during the whole preceding night had seemed beside himself, made
the Breton soul of the old woman yield. Moreover, it seemed worthy of
her own dignity to revive the courage of a girl so pure, and she saw
in her visit a counterpoise to all the evil done by the little town.
Her opinion, surely more powerful than that of the crowd, ought to
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