I live on good soup, not on fine words. An empire founded by war has to maintain itself by war. The ideas that humans have about themselves both limit the and set them free. An individual can call oneself disabled and that is just what one will limits oneself to being. Or, a human can say one is a free thinker and adventurer and one can get to Neptune and beyond. Adepts not only seek the few who seek them but they also seek the fewer still who are qualified for them. The teacher does not lift the veil of Aaliayh for everyone one meets in the street but one will always lift it for those who ask aright. One cannot help all the millions of humankind. One can help only those who come into sympathetic and receptive contact with one or with one’s work. All the objects of human reason or enquiry may naturally be divided into two kinds, to wit, Relations of Ideas, and Matters of Fact. Of the first kind are the sciences of Trigonometry, Geometry, Algebra, and Arithmetic; and in short, every affirmation, which either intuitively or demonstratively certain. That the square of the hypothenuse is equal to the square of the two sides, is a proposition, which expresses a relation between these figures. That three times five is equal to the half of thirty, expresses a relation between these numbers. #RandolphHarris 1 of 20

Propositions of this kind are discoverable by the mere operation of thought, without dependence on what is any where existent in the Universe. Though there never were a circle or triangle in nature, the truths, demonstrated by EUCLID, would forever retain their certainty and evidence. Matters of fact, which are the second objects of human reason, are not ascertained in the same manner; nor is our evidence of their truth, however great, of a like nature with the foregoing. The contrary of every matter of fact is still possible; because it can never imply a contradiction, and is conceived by the mind with the same facility and distinctness, as if ever so conformable to reality. That the Sun will not rise to-morrow is no less intelligible a proposition, and implies no more contradiction, than the affirmation, that it will rise. We should in vain, therefore, attempt to demonstrate its falsehood. Were in demonstratively false, it would imply a contradiction, and could never be distinctly conceived by the mind. It may, therefore, be a subject worthy of curiosity, to enquire what is the nature of that evidence, which assures us of any real existence and matter of fact, beyond the present testimony of our senses, or the records of our memory. #RandolphHarris 2 of 20

This part of philosophy, it is observable, has been little cultivated, either by the ancients or moderns; and therefore our doubts and errors, in the prosecution of so important an enquiry, may be the more excusable; while we march through such difficult paths, without any guide or direction. They may even prove useful, by exciting curiosity, and destroying that implicit faith and security, which is the bane of all reasoning and free enquiry. The discovery of defects in the common philosophy, if any such there be, will not, I presume, be a discouragement, but rather an incitement, as is usual, to attempt something more full and satisfactory, than has yet been proposed to the public. The ultimate materials of imagination must consist of the primary parts of individuals, that is, of sense images, and at least some of their components and qualities. Imaginative activity is anchored in experience and restrained by experience. Further insight into the activity of imagination maybe obtained by examining our treatment of poetry. In its style—the rhythms, cadences, and tones of its language—poetry is restrained, but in all other ways is extremely free and licensed. In all things pertaining to its subject matter, it is dependent upon the imagination, which may at pleasure make unlawful matches and divorces of things. #RandolphHarris 3 of 20

In its poetical garb, imagination brings forth feigned history, which is but an imitation of history at pleasure, nevertheless, imagination work within those rational boundaries within which humans believe nature may be enlarged and corrected. Humans want a more perfect nature than pure reason, operating alone, can discover. In perfecting nature, poetry may even take the mind close to something divine: as the sensible World is inferior in dignity to the rational soul, we bestow upon human nature those things which history denies to it; and to satisfy the mind with the shadows of things when the substance cannot be obtained. For if the matter be attentively considered, a sound argument may be drawn to show that there is agreeable to the human soul [animae humanae as “the spirit of human.”] a more ample greatness, a more perfect order, and a more beautiful variety than it can anywhere (since the Fall) find in nature. And therefore, since the acts and events which are the subjects of real history are not of sufficient grandeur to satisfy the human mind, we are at hand to feign acts more heroical; since the successes and issues of actions as related in true history are far from being agreeable to the merits of virtue and vice, we correct it, exhibiting events and fortunes as according to merit and the law of providence; since true history wearies the mind with satiety of ordinary events, like another, we refresh it, by reciting tings unexpected and various and full of vicissitudes. #RandolphHarris 4 of 20

So that this we conduce not only to delight but also to magnanimity and morality. Whence it may be fairly thought to partake somewhat of a divine nature; because it raises the mind and carries it aloft, accommodating the shows of things to the desires of the mind, not (like reason and history) buckling and bowing down the mind to the nature of things. When the imagination thus acts, it creates narrative or heroical poetry. This species of verse makes its images such as might pass for real, yet it commonly exaggerates things beyond probability. The imagination sometimes goes quite beyond reason in dreams and visions. Perhaps it is acting irrationally also when it creates images like those of centaur, unicorn, mermaid, satyr, and Pan. These species of literature represents actions as if they were present. There may also be the implied observation that the imagination of a human in an audience is more easily stimulated or responds more intensely than is the case when one is alone. And certainly it is most true, and one of the great secrets of nature, that the minds of humans are more open to impressions and affections when many are gathered together than when they are alone. Hence the stage play can be a powerful instrument in moving humans to virtue. #RandolphHarris 5 of 20

Whenever you send a written communication, whether by regular mail or email, your writing style will be on full view. If you make any mistakes, they will reflect on you, so make a point of carefully reviewing everything you write, even informal notes. Want to impress someone? Send them a note, in the mail, handwritten, on nice stationary. They will be impressed. They will remember you. And they will think, “What a nice human being.” People often ask me, “Why should I write a note? Why not send an e-mail?” The answer is easy. If it is a choice between writing an e-mail or doing nothing, write the e-mail. However, if the choice is whether to send a handwritten note or an e-mail, then the handwritten note may just be the best idea. Think of it this way: With an e-mail, you type it, press Send, hope the e-mail makes it through any spam blockers, and then hope the recipient is interested enough by the subject line to actually read it. Once read, one closes it and hits the Delete button. With the handwritten note, after it is written, you place it in an envelope, address, place the correct and official postage stamp on it, and mail it. When the note arrives, the recipient invariably opens it. (Have you ever received a personal letter and not opened it?) Once read, it is placed on a tabletop, desk, or counter, or posted on a bulletin board or on your refrigerator with a magnet. It is seen again and again and each time it is seen, the recipient thinks of you. #RandolphHarris 6 of 20

When you receive and open a gift without the giver being present, please send a hand written thank-you note. In fact, even if the giver is present and you thank the individual, send a note anyway. The human will be really impressed. When you stay at someone’s house overnight, send a thank-you note. When you go to someone’s house for dinner, send a thank-you note. Other things to consider. Send a note saying congratulations for graduating or on a promotion or new job, or when a new addition to the family had arrived or a special anniversary or birthday is being celebrated. Nonetheless, one of the hardest notes to send and one of the most appreciated notes to receive is the bereavement note. We all experience the loss of a loved one or close friend and when we do it is devastating. The notes of sympathy and remembrance are a catalyst to helping get through the pain of the loss. It seems like such a small thing from the perspective of the sender. However, for the recipient those notes are a powerful comfort to help deal with the loss. Take some time to think about something short and heartfelt to say and maybe get a friend to review it to make sure it is received well. Now, what to say in a thank-you note. It is easy. When writing a thank-you note, keep it short and sweet. Just three to five sentences is all you need. #RandolphHarris 7 of 20

To highlight how to write a nice thank-you note:

Dear Tori, and Jill,

What a great weekend! The dinner party Saturday night could not have been better, and I enjoyed meeting all your new friends in Tofino, British Columbia. Hope we can get together soon, and I really enjoyed the shepherd’s pie. Hope we can get together again soon.

Thanks for making my visit such a pleasure.

Randolph

(Maximum time to write: ten minutes. Maximum benefit to you: incalculable.)

#RandolphHarris 8 of 20

To be someone’s disciple is to go farther in relationship than to be one’s student. What is the number of the house? What do I see? A public display of fancy articles. My beautiful stranger, it may be shocking on my part, but I am following the bright path. She has forgotten what happened—ah, yes, when one is seventeen years old, when one goes shopping in this happy age, when every single large or little object picked up gives unspeakable delight, then one really forgets. As yet she has not seen me: I am standing at the other end of the counter, far off by myself. There is a mirror on the opposite wall; she is not contemplating it, but the mirror is contemplating her. How faithfully it has caught her image, like a humble slave who shows his devotion by his faithfulness, a slave for whom she certainly has significance but who has no significance for her, who indeed dares to capture her but not to hold her. Unhappy mirror, which assuredly can grasp her image but not her; unhappy mirror, which cannot secretly hide her image in itself, hide it from the whole World, but can only disclose it to others as it now does to me. What torture if a human being were fashioned that way. And yet are there not many people who are like that, who possess nothing except at the moment when they are showing it to others, who merely grasp the surface, not the essence, lose everything when this is going to show itself, just as the mirror would lose her image if she were to disclose her heart to it by a single breathe. #RandolphHarris 9 of 20

And if a person were unable to possess an image in recollection at the very moment of presence, one must ever wish to be at a distance from beauty, not so close that the mortal eyes cannot see the beauty of that which one holds in one’s embrace and which the external eyes have lost, which he, to be sure, can regain for the external vision by distancing himself from it, but which one can, in fact, have before the eye of his soul when he cannot see the object because it is to close to him, when lips are clinging to lips. How beautiful she is! Poor mirror, it must be tormenting—it is good that you do not know jealousy. The master will teach with love what the student must learn with reverence. The zeal of the Master will by slow degrees permeate the heart of the disciple. Under the Sunshine of this encouragement, inspiration, and stimulation, the inner life expands. Only those who have themselves felt it can understand how one is able to exert such drawing power and arouse such fervid devotion in disciples. There is intimacy in the fellowship between teacher and disciple which is unique. There is an impersonality in this most personal human relationship which equally unique. No other relationship, whether familial or friendly, can compare with this relationship in depth or beauty or value. There is no bound so strong, no attraction so deep as that between Master and pupil. Consequently it persists through incarnation after incarnation. #RandolphHarris 10 of 20

It is a special kind of relationship, one which is less dependent on physical conditions than any other human relationship. If they never meet again, never see each other again, it remains unchangeably the same to the end. One must be eloquent when one unveils the symbolism of the Cross. One can only admire one’s reverence for the mystery which is revealed and the depth which one sees in it. And one can hardly resist quoting one at length again and again. Yet one feels a certain embarrassment. One can sense the impression of having discovered the fullness of the symbol of the Cross. One praises the Fathers who composed the Apostles’ creed for the fact that one of its great features is that in all-embracing second article it has enumerated symbols of subjection along with symbols of victory. Credit should therefore be given to them for reading the symbolism of the Cross and confessing its relevance to Christian faith. However, I see their confession only an anticipation: they anticipated the basic structure in which the universal significance of Jesus the Christ as the bearer of the New Being must be seen. Who fulfilled the anticipation, one is left to imagine. One thing is certain. The anticipation is not fulfilled by Christianity. #RandolphHarris 11 of 20

Christianity may be great. Whenever the hardness and the crust are broken through and the substance becomes visible, it exercises a peculiar fascination; then we see what we have now lost, and a deep yearning awakens in us for the departed youth of our culture. However, Christianity is consistently heteronomous. Refusing to place itself under the judgment, it implicitly rejects the Cross. It has abandoned the prophetic spirit which says “no” together with “yes” and “yes” together with “no.” Ecclesiastically limited Christianity, petrified and mechanized in its forms, is unable to place itself on the Cross and, through repentance and self-condemnation, to give itself a new life. Just as Jesus could not have been the Christ without sacrificing himself as Jesus to himself as the Christ, so must a Church sacrifice itself. The criterion of the truth of faith is that it implies an element of self-negation. Christianity professes no such element. Driven by this criterion, Protestantism has criticized the Roman Church. This Church has been led into forms of idolatry because she did not take seriously enough the Cross of the Christ. Only in Protestantism has the Cross been given its due place. Protestantism is not only a protest, it is also—and above all—Christianity. It is also and above all the bearer and mediator of the New Being manifest in Jesus Christ. #RandolphHarris 12 of 20

Protestantism is thus found wherever—even outside of Protestant denominations, even outside of professedly Christian groups—the boundary-situation is proclaimed to be the very situation of salvation; wherever the meaning of the Cross is announced; wherever the Christian substance is preached under the shadow of the Cross. The fact that this criterion is identical with the Protestant principle and has become reality in the Cross of the Christ constitutes the superiority of Protestant Christianity. Yet not all Protestantism is thus saved. The end of the Protestant era means precisely that institutional Protestantism is no longer the standard-bearer of the Protestant principle. It is merely on the defensive. If the protest against itself on the basis of an experience of God’s majesty constitutes the Protestant principle, it is evident that the Churches are not engaged in protesting against themselves. The basic problem of Protestant institutions is to elaborate beneficial forms of life while constantly denying their sufficiency. This is so difficult that my objection to institutionalism may be turned against me. If to institutionalize salvation often entails a withdrawal of the element of self-negation, an undermining of the meaning of the Cross, is not me myself transcending self-negation when I proclaim the superiority of Protestant Christianity? #RandolphHarris 13 of 20

This pride in superiority is as arrogant as the sacramental authority of bishops and priests has ever been. If a claim to superiority is clearly justified, a moderate pride in it may be forgiven. Yet how Protestant is Protestantism? The institutional Churches being partly discarded, what remains? There remain those who are, Protestant unawares. Where are the Protestants? They are wherever Protestantism appears as the prophetic spirit which lists where it will, without ecclesiastical conditions, organizations and tradition. Thus it will operate through Christianity as well as through orthodoxy, through freedom as well as through capitalism. The question is, Are the Reformers themselves among these disciples of the ground of being? It is by fidelity to the Cross that the God of Protestantism has no sacraments which can be divorced from the prophetic message and therefore no priesthood and no genuine cult. Two comments are pertinent. In the first place, how can Christian faith involve a true relation to God if it does not inspire adoration? And adoration means cults. In the second place, it has always been the Christian understanding of the Cross that the Cross was an expression, a symbol, of worship. This is why the Church Fathers saw in it the unique sacrifice of the Son of God. #RandolphHarris 14 of 20

Christianity has embodied this in its theology of the Eucharist, which is a re-presentation of the unique sacrifice of the Cross, of the cult offered by Jesus the Christ of the Father. The Reformers strenuously maintained that, in the words of the Confession of Augsburg, “The Passion of Christ was an oblation and a satisfaction.” That is, it was an act of divine cult. How Christ is both the Father and the Son—He will make intercessions and bear the transgressions of His people—they and all the holy prophets are His seed—He brings to pass the Resurrection—little children have eternal life. About 148 Before Christ. “And now Abinadi said unto them: I would that ye should understand that God Himself shall come down among the children of humans, and shall redeem His people. And because He dwelleth in flesh He shall be called the Son of God, and having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son—the Father, because He was conceived by the power of God; and the Son, because of the flesh; this becoming the Father and Son—and they are one God, yea, the very Eternal Father of Heaven and of Earth. And thus the flesh becoming subject to the Spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God, suffereth temptation, and yieldth not to the temptation, but suffereth oneself to be mocked, and scourged, and cast out, and disowned by His people. #RandolphHarris 15 of 20

“And after all this, after working many mighty miracles among the children of humans, He shall be led, yea, even as Isaiah said, as a sheep before the shearer is dumb, so one opened not one’s mouth. Yea, even so one shall be led, crucified, and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father. And thus God breaketh the bands of death, having gained the victory over death; giving the Son power to make intercession for the children of humans—having ascended into Heaven, having the bowels of mercy; being filled with compassion towards the children of humans; standing betwixt them and justice; having broke the bands of death, taken upon Himself their iniquity and their transgressions, having redeemed them, and satisfied the demands of justice. And now I say unto you, who shall declare one’s generation? Behold, I say unto you, that when one’s soul has been made an offering for sin one shall see one’s seed. And now what say ye? And who shall be his seed? Behold I say unto you, that whosoever has heard the words of the prophets, yea, all the holy prophets who have prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord—I say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto their words, and believed that the Lord would redeem His people, and have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins, I say unto you, that these are His seed, or they are the heirs of the kingdom of God. #RandolphHarris 16 of 20

“For these are they whose sins He has borne; these are they for whom He has died, to redeem them from their transgressions. And now are they not his seed? Yea, and are not the prophets, every one that has opened one’s mouth to prophesy, that has no fallen into transgression, I mean all the holy prophets ever since the World began? I say unto you that they are his seed. And these are they who have published peace, who have brought good tidings of good, who have published salvation; and said unto Zion: Thy God reigneth! And O how beautiful upon the mountains were their feet! And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that are still publishing peace! And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who shall hereafter publish peace, yea, from this time henceforth and forever! And behold, I say unto you, this is not all. For O how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of one that bringeth good tidings, that is the founder of peace, yea, His people; yea, Him who has granted salvation unto His people. For were it not for the redemption which He hath made for His people, which was prepared from the foundation of the World, I say unto you, were it not for this, all humankind must have perished. However, behold, the bands of death shall be broken, and the Son reigneth, and hath power over the dead; therefore, He bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead. #RandolphHarris 17 of 20

“And there cometh a resurrection, even a first resurrection; yea, even a resurrection of those that have been, and who are, and who shall be, even until the resurrection of Christ—for so shall he be called. And now, the resurrection of all the prophets, and all those that have believed in their words, or all those that have kept the commandments of God, shall come forth in first resurrection; therefore, they are the first resurrection. They are raised to dwell with God who has redeemed them; thus they have eternal life through Christ, who has broken the bands of death. And these are those who have part in the first resurrection; and these are they that have died before Christ came, in their ignorance, not having salvation declared unto them. And thus the Lord bringeth about the restoration of these; and they have a part in the first resurrection, or have eternal life, being redeemed by the Lord. And little children also have eternal life. However, behold, and fear, and tremble before God, for ye ought to tremble; for the Lord redeemeth none such that rebel against him and die in their sins; yea, even all those that have perished in their sins ever since the World began, that have willfully rebelled against God, that have known the commandments of God, and would not keep them; these are they that have no part in the first resurrection. #RandolphHarris 18 of 20

“Therefore ought ye not to tremble? For salvation cometh to none such; for the Lord hath redeemed none such; yea, neither can the Lord redeem such; for He cannot deny Himself; for He cannot deny justice when it has its claim. And now I say unto you that the time shall come that the salvation of the Lord shall be declared to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. Yea, Lord, Thy watch-people shall lift up their voice; with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion. Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem; for the Lord hath comforted His people, He hath redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord hath made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the Earth shall see the salvation of our God,” reports Mosiah 15.1-31. O God of Love, I approach Thee with encouragement derived from Thy character, for I am not left to feel after Thee in the darkness of my nature, nor to worship Thee as the unknown God. I cannot find out Thy perfections, but I know Thou art good, ready to forgive, plenteous in mercy. Thou hast displayed Thy wisdom, power, and goodness in all Thy works, and hast revealed thy will in the Scripture of truth. Thou hast caused it to be preserved, translated, published, multiplied, so that all humans may possess it and find thee in it. #RandolphHarris 19 of 20

Here I see Thy greatness and Thy grace, Thy pity and Thy rectitude, Thy mercy and Thy truth, Thy being and human’s hearts; through it Thou hast magnified Thy name, and favoured humankind with the gospel. Please have mercy on me, for I have ungratefully received Thy benefits, little improved my privileges, made light of spiritual things, disregarded Thy messages, contended with examples of the god, rebukes of conscience, admonitions of friends, leadings of providence. I deserve that Thy kingdom be taken away from me. Lord, I confess my sin with feeling, lamentation, a broken heart, a contrite spirit, self-abhorrence, self-condemnation, self-despair. Please give me relief by Jesus my hope, faith in His name of Saviour, forgiveness by His blood, strength by His presence, holiness by His Spirit: And please let me love Thee with all my heart. O God, Who although Thou art wholly present everywhere, and containest all thing with Thine own Majesty, yet hast willed that places suitable for Thy Mysteries should be consecrated unto Thee, that the house of Prayer should themselves stir up the minds of Thy suppliants to call upon this place, and show to all who hope in Thee the gift of Thine assistance; that here they may obtain both the virtue of Thy Sacraments, and the effect of their own prayers; through Jesus Christ our Lord. #RandolphHarris 20 of 20

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