I came across this paraphrase from John Newton’s “Some Blemishes in Christian Character” on Tim Keller’s Vision blog archive and found them penetrating. See if you can recognize your loved ones — or, more importantly, yourself!
“Austerus” is inflexibly and invariably true to her principles, but there is a harshness in manner that makes her more admired than loved. Her intimate friends know that she is no stranger to humility, but those friends are few. Others think her proud, dogmatic and self-important, with a cynical air.
“Humanus” is generous and benevolent, but if you entrust him with a secret, you put it in possession of the public. Also, though in matters of great importance he has regard for the truth, in the smaller matters of common life, he often exaggerates for effect, or speaks surely when he is not sure, or says that which is very inappropriate for the occasion.
“Prudens” is very thrifty, and though she would not grossly wrong or injure another, yet the things that she will do to save or gain money is to her discredit. She is herself very punctual and conscientious in fulfilling obligations, but is hard, strict, and suspicious in making bargains. Beneath her severity is a heart that worries too much about what could go wrong.
“Volatilis” is sincere in all his promises at the time of making them, but for lack of discipline, he is always in a hurry, always too late, and always has an engagement on his hands with which it is impossible to comply. He accepts with insufficient thought proposals that are incompatible with each other. No one expects him until they see him. He excuses himself chiefly by alleging that the things in which he fails are not of the greatest consequence.
“Cessator” is not (like Prudens) buried in the cares of the world. Rather, she lives as if she had been sent into the world only to read, pray, hear sermons, and to talk to people about Jesus. She does not know that the means of grace were designed to shape and strengthen us for the duties of civil life, career, and society. She thanks God she is not worldly-minded, but this is an excuse for avoiding the hard work and discipline of being a full member of society.
“Curiosus” has a desire of knowing everybody’s business, and then enjoys dropping hints about how much he knows. He constantly finds fault in others and thus leads those who know him to be constantly on their guard and to treat him with reserve. If he would notice the cold and evasive answers he so often receives, and the looks that accompany them, he might learn that he is considered a gossip and a critical spirit.