| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Sylvie and Bruno by Lewis Carroll: "I know it's not Saturday," Lady Muriel replied; "but isn't Sunday
often called 'the Christian Sabbath'?"
"It is so called, I think, in recognition of the spirit of the Jewish
institution, that one day in seven should be a day of rest.
But I hold that Christians are freed from the literal observance of
the Fourth Commandment."
"Then where is our authority for Sunday observance?"
"We have, first, the fact that the seventh day was 'sanctified',
when God rested from the work of Creation. That is binding on us as
Theists. Secondly, we have the fact that 'the Lord's Day' is a
Christian institution. That is binding on us as Christians."
Sylvie and Bruno |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Alcibiades I by Plato: SOCRATES: Who are good in what?
ALCIBIADES: Those, clearly, who are good in the management of affairs.
SOCRATES: What sort of affairs? Equestrian affairs?
ALCIBIADES: Certainly not.
SOCRATES: You mean that about them we should have recourse to horsemen?
ALCIBIADES: Yes.
SOCRATES: Well, naval affairs?
ALCIBIADES: No.
SOCRATES: You mean that we should have recourse to sailors about them?
ALCIBIADES: Yes.
SOCRATES: Then what affairs? And who do them?
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Large Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther: not develop into a good breed and at best they will remain godly under
such treatment no longer than while the rod is upon their back.
But this [manner of training] so spreads its roots in the heart that
they fear God more than rods and clubs. This I say with such
simplicity for the sake of the young, that it may penetrate their
minds. For since we are preaching to children, we must also prattle
with them. Thus we have prevented the abuse and have taught the right
use of the divine name, which should consist not only in words, but
also in practices and life, so that we may know that God is well
pleased with this and will as richly reward it as He will terribly
punish the abuse.
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