Okay, so you are courteous, and not thought of by others as proud, dogmatic or self important (1). You know when to speak, and when to keep silent, and would never never betray a trust with an unbridled tongue (2). You are generous with your money and could never be accused of driving a hard bargain at a yard sale. When you go out to eat, waiters and waitresses vie for your table because they know there will be a generous tip under the tract you leave them (3).
Let's go on to no. 4. “VOLATILIS is sufficiently exact in performing his promises in such instances as he thinks of real importance. If he bids a person depend upon his assistance, he will not disappoint his expectations. Perhaps he is equally sincere in all his promises at the time of making them; but for want of method in the management of his affairs, he is always in a hurry, always too late, and has always some engagement upon his hands with which it is impossible he can comply: yet he goes on in this way, exposing himself and others to continual disappointments. He accepts, without a thought, proposals which are incompatible with each other, and will perhaps undertake to be at two or three different and distant places at the same hour. This has been so long his practice, that nobody expects him till they see him. In other respects he is a good sort of man; but this want of punctuality, which runs through his whole deportment, puts everything out of course in which he is concerned, abroad and at home. Volatilis excuses himself as well as he can, and chiefly by alleging, that the things in which he fails are of no great consequence. But he would do well to remember, that truth is a sacred thing and ought not be violated in the smallest matters, without an unforeseen and unavoidable prevention. Such a trifling turn of spirit lessens the weight of a person's character, though he makes no pretensions to religion, and is still greater in a professor.”
May His grace and peace be your portion tonight, To my Children, Grandchildren, Friends and those who were my Friends before I began this series. DGDRAF
Our Japan Trip--God's Grace
14 years ago
