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Article THE PRINCIPLES OF FREE MASONRY EXPLAINED. ← Page 2 of 15 →
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The Principles Of Free Masonry Explained.
gree . The reason is obvious : where we see neither the happiness nor misery of others , we can neither congratulate nor compassionate : where others behold neither our pleasures nor pains , the first cannot receive that refinement , nor the second that relief which they respectively demand . To the assistance of others , we are in the main in ~ debted for these advantages , and that assistance we cannot have in a , state of separation from them . Hence that inflexibility and
slovenliness , so remarkable in people retired from the world : hence too , that mixture of pride and meanness , which disgraces those who are but superficially acquainted with it . Thus no man is absolutely independent of his neighbour . As we stand in need of others , so they stand in need of us . In adversity we solicit their pity ; and in prosperity we court their smiles . Our selfr
love prompts us in both cases to have recourse to their benevolence ; ancLthat principle moves them to sympathize with our distress , or tp rejoice at pur welfare . In similar circumstances , they act in the same . manner , and look for the same exertion of our kind affections in . their favour . For as their benevolence tallied with the emotions of our self-love ; -so , provided no unsocial passion intervene , our benevolence
tallies with the emotions of theirs . We naturally weep over their afflictions , or exult in their gaiety and joy . . In this manner , hath the Divine wisdom adjusted these principles to each other . The benevolence of one pan of mankind is ' ' by this means disposed to grant that commiseration which the calamity , or that congratulation which the good fortune , ' of the other part causes them to requesf .
This adjustment of Benevolence and Self-love to each other is , my Brethren , die foundation on which the grand and beautiful fabric of human society is eredtetj . The reciprocal workings ol these princi ples . cement mankind together in the strongest manner , and draw from therii more than half of those virtues that reflect the hi ghest honour on their nature . People of true humanity feel no leasure so delicious as that
p of beholding or promoting the welfare of their fellow-creatures : nq anguish pierces them so deeply , as that of seeing their distress without power to relieve it . Were it not for such candid and generous tempers , the prosperous would enjoy little satisfaction in their condition ; nor could the miserable indulge the pleasing hopes of seeing their sorrows at an end .
When Gop , therefore , founded society on Benevolence and selflove , so nicely adjusted to each other , he ' gave it the utmost strength and firmness of which we can suppose it capable . The contrivance by which this noble and admirable effect is produced , is , to the last . degree , plain and simple . jh | s points it out as worthy of the Deity ,, and places his wisdom and goodness in a point of view , from whioh
pvery pious and contemplative mind will survey them with wonder and [ gratitude . ...... - The princi ples on which human society is founded being thus ex *
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Principles Of Free Masonry Explained.
gree . The reason is obvious : where we see neither the happiness nor misery of others , we can neither congratulate nor compassionate : where others behold neither our pleasures nor pains , the first cannot receive that refinement , nor the second that relief which they respectively demand . To the assistance of others , we are in the main in ~ debted for these advantages , and that assistance we cannot have in a , state of separation from them . Hence that inflexibility and
slovenliness , so remarkable in people retired from the world : hence too , that mixture of pride and meanness , which disgraces those who are but superficially acquainted with it . Thus no man is absolutely independent of his neighbour . As we stand in need of others , so they stand in need of us . In adversity we solicit their pity ; and in prosperity we court their smiles . Our selfr
love prompts us in both cases to have recourse to their benevolence ; ancLthat principle moves them to sympathize with our distress , or tp rejoice at pur welfare . In similar circumstances , they act in the same . manner , and look for the same exertion of our kind affections in . their favour . For as their benevolence tallied with the emotions of our self-love ; -so , provided no unsocial passion intervene , our benevolence
tallies with the emotions of theirs . We naturally weep over their afflictions , or exult in their gaiety and joy . . In this manner , hath the Divine wisdom adjusted these principles to each other . The benevolence of one pan of mankind is ' ' by this means disposed to grant that commiseration which the calamity , or that congratulation which the good fortune , ' of the other part causes them to requesf .
This adjustment of Benevolence and Self-love to each other is , my Brethren , die foundation on which the grand and beautiful fabric of human society is eredtetj . The reciprocal workings ol these princi ples . cement mankind together in the strongest manner , and draw from therii more than half of those virtues that reflect the hi ghest honour on their nature . People of true humanity feel no leasure so delicious as that
p of beholding or promoting the welfare of their fellow-creatures : nq anguish pierces them so deeply , as that of seeing their distress without power to relieve it . Were it not for such candid and generous tempers , the prosperous would enjoy little satisfaction in their condition ; nor could the miserable indulge the pleasing hopes of seeing their sorrows at an end .
When Gop , therefore , founded society on Benevolence and selflove , so nicely adjusted to each other , he ' gave it the utmost strength and firmness of which we can suppose it capable . The contrivance by which this noble and admirable effect is produced , is , to the last . degree , plain and simple . jh | s points it out as worthy of the Deity ,, and places his wisdom and goodness in a point of view , from whioh
pvery pious and contemplative mind will survey them with wonder and [ gratitude . ...... - The princi ples on which human society is founded being thus ex *