| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Hellenica by Xenophon: the flower of his heavy infantry--the ten-years-service men[16]--to
close with them at a run, and the peltasts to bring up their supports
at the double. The order passed to his cavalry was to charge in
confidence that he and the whole body of his troops were close behind
them. The cavalry charge was received by the Persians without
flinching, but presently finding themselves environed by the full tide
of war they swerved. Some found a speedy grave within the river, but
the mass of them gradually made good their escape. The Hellenes
followed close on the heels of the flying foe and captured his camp.
here the peltasts not unnaturally fell to pillaging; whereupon
Agesilaus planted his troops so as to form a cordon enclosing the
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians by Martin Luther: from the yoke of the Law. The opinion that obedience to the Law was mandatory
unto salvation was gaining ground. Paul meant to remedy this evil. By this
conference he hoped to establish the identity of his Gospel with that of the
other apostles, to stop the talk of his opponents that he had been running
around in vain.
VERSE 3. But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was
compelled to be circumcised.
The word "compelled" acquaints us with the outcome of the conference. It was
resolved that the Gentiles should not be compelled to be circumcised.
Paul did not condemn circumcision in itself. Neither by word nor deed did he
ever inveigh against circumcision. But he did protest against circumcision
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Poems of William Blake by William Blake: She ceasd & smild in tears, then sat down in her silver shrine.
Thel answerd, O thou little virgin of the peaceful valley.
Giving to those that cannot crave, the voiceless, the o'er tired
The breath doth nourish the innocent lamb, he smells the milky garments
He crops thy flowers while thou sittest smiling in his face,
Wiping his mild and meekin mouth from all contagious taints.
Thy wine doth purify the golden honey; thy perfume.
Which thou dost scatter on every little blade of grass that springs
Revives the milked cow, & tames the fire-breathing steed.
But Thel is like a faint cloud kindled at the rising sun:
I vanish from my pearly throne, and who shall find my place.
Poems of William Blake |
