Oh that Thou wouldest altogether by Thy presence, kindle, consume, and transform me into Thyself; that I may be made one spirit with Thee, by the grace of inward union, and the melting of earnest love!
— from The Imitation of Christ by à Kempis Thomas

Here was the place where the matter of expense limited the patrons to the moneyed or pleasure-loving class.
— from Sister Carrie: A Novel by Theodore Dreiser

The agonies of the pale and affrighted wretch, who lay grovelling under the table of the altar, exhibited a solemn and instructive spectacle; and the orator, who was afterwards accused of insulting the misfortunes of Eutropius, labored to excite the contempt, that he might assuage the fury, of the people.
— from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Table of Contents with links in the HTML file to the two Project Gutenberg editions (12 volumes) by Edward Gibbon

As the Arthurian legends are one of the great recurring motives of English literature, Malory's work should be better known.
— from English Literature Its History and Its Significance for the Life of the English-Speaking World by William J. (William Joseph) Long

Any community which had begun to cultivate the Life of Reason in those highest fields would tend to live rationally on all subordinate levels also; for with science and morality rationally applied the best possible use would be made of every local and historical accident.
— from The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress by George Santayana

A number of dishes were brought in piled up with fish-cake, white beans boiled with sugar, raw, broiled and boiled fish, perhaps some boiled fowl or roast wild duck, cut up in small pieces, and these were served on small plates or saucers, and each person received a bowl containing a sort of pudding made of eggs, loach and the large seeds of the maidenhair tree.
— from A Diplomat in Japan The inner history of the critical years in the evolution of Japan when the ports were opened and the monarchy restored, recorded by a diplomatist who took an active part in the events of the time, with an account of his personal experiences during that period by Ernest Mason Satow

But concerning the solemnities of the Jews, either why or how far they were instituted by divine authority, and afterwards, in due time, by the same authority taken away from the people of God, to whom the mystery of eternal life was revealed, we have both spoken elsewhere, especially when we were treating against the Manichæans, and also intend to speak in this work in a more suitable place. 12.
— from The City of God, Volume I by Augustine, Saint, Bishop of Hippo

At thirty years of age he is master of every language of Europe, and is turning his attention to those of Asia, such as Hebrew, Syriac, Chaldaic.
— from Hidden Treasures; Or, Why Some Succeed While Others Fail by Harry A. Lewis

Let us banish the idea of disorder from the earth, by opening the gates of time beyond our birth, as we have banished the idea of injustice by opening other gates beyond the tomb; let us stretch duration in every direction, and, notwithstanding the obscurity which rests upon our two horizons, let us glorify the Creator in glorifying ourselves, who are God's ministers on earth, let us remember, with pious pride, that we are the younger brethren of the angels."
— from The Day After Death; Or, Our Future Life According to Science (New Edition) by Louis Figuier

There are not many of 'em left in these United States, and what there is, are going fast.
— from Grace Harlowe's Overland Riders in the Great North Woods by Josephine Chase

Proper Employment of Omelette, Friars' Ordinary Observations on Onions, to Pickle Smell of, to Remedy Open Doors or Windows in Fire Operations, Surgical, Minor Opium Enema Lotion Nature and Uses of Properties of Orange Confection Marmalade Peel as a Tonic Peel Syrup Seville, Properties and Uses of Water Ice
— from Enquire Within Upon Everything The Great Victorian Domestic Standby by Robert Kemp Philp

My own experience leads me to think that in this respect the day-school—probably on account of its mixed social conditions—is worse than the boarding-school.
— from Youth and Sex: Dangers and Safeguards for Girls and Boys by Frederick Arthur Sibly

The outward appearance, and a disordered opinion on matters of everyday life, are often sufficient indication of this intemperance of mind which is so grave a human failing.
— from The Treasury of Ancient Egypt Miscellaneous Chapters on Ancient Egyptian History and Archaeology by Arthur E. P. Brome (Arthur Edward Pearse Brome) Weigall

At the mercy of every little pinafore ruffian that knows English enough to cry 'scat!' "If you earn anything beside cat- nips , I hope you'll come and tell me!
— from The Life and Beauties of Fanny Fern by William U. Moulton