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Article THE PRINCIPLES OF FREE MASONRY EXPLAINED. ← Page 7 of 15 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Principles Of Free Masonry Explained.
Such , my brethren , is the nature of our most excellent religior ?; such the duties which it exacts from all who profess it ; and such the motives and aids by which they are animated to perform them . From this short account of it you see , that it is kindly designed , and wisely fitted , to repair the ruins of human nature , by restoring the original and happy adjustment of its affections . Were men at sufficient pains lives bits
to understand its sacred doctrines , and square their y salutary precepts , they would soon be united to God and to one another , _ by piety , benevolence , and moderation . Their hearts would exult in a conscious sense of the divine favour ; no discordant and unsocial passion would disturb the harmony of their souls ; and the prospeit of endless felicity would smooth the more rugged part of their duty . No
religious institution ever appeared in the world , so perfectly _ adapted as Christianity , to give tranquillity of mind in every situation of life , and to cement the whole human race together , with friendship and brotherl y love . Every man of genuine piety and benevolence , will refleCt on its amiable tendency with growing satisfaction , and pray , that all nations were under its happy influence . But , alas ! the excess
Of self-love ; which , as already shewn , was the orig inal source of discord among men , has excluded the gospel from a great part of the world , and rendered it too ineffectual where it is professed . Worldly objeCts have , by their false charms , reduced the attention of mankind from those that are heavenly , and fixed it wholly , or for the greater part , on themselves . From this sketch of Christianity , I go on to explain the principles of Free-Masonry , and to shew you how they tend to correct the follies and injuries that men commit against one another .
My Brethren , yoa have already heard that the violation ot the adjustment given originally to the human affections , is the cause-of those evils whicli spring from society . ' You arc now to observe , that , amidst all the dissentions which this violation produced in ecclesiastical and civil ' government , there are certain articles in which all nations and societies are agreed . All men who make any use of their reason , acknowledthe existence of a Beingwho madeand presides over the
ge , , wOrld ; that he ought to be worshipped by ail his intelligent creatures ; that every person ought to abstain from hurting the charaCter , life , or fortune of his neig hbour ; that obedience is due to the laws of temperance , sobriety , and chastity ; and that every man is accountable to God for his condufi . 'Tis true , though all men admit of the truth of these articles in . general , yet , when they exp lain the manner in which extremel
they conceive them , their opinions about them are y wide of one another . Some , for . instance , hold the Deity to be' an eternal , incomprehensible , . and holy spirit ; and others , on the contrary , have conceived him as corporeal , and subjeCt to human passions . Again , some contend that he created and governs all things from -a generous princile of imparting happ iness to his creatures ; but others argue that
p his whole conduCt is directed -b y a regard for his own glory , which he manifests by saving a few men , and condemning all the rest to eternal perdition , But though divines in all ages and relig ions have kindled B 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Principles Of Free Masonry Explained.
Such , my brethren , is the nature of our most excellent religior ?; such the duties which it exacts from all who profess it ; and such the motives and aids by which they are animated to perform them . From this short account of it you see , that it is kindly designed , and wisely fitted , to repair the ruins of human nature , by restoring the original and happy adjustment of its affections . Were men at sufficient pains lives bits
to understand its sacred doctrines , and square their y salutary precepts , they would soon be united to God and to one another , _ by piety , benevolence , and moderation . Their hearts would exult in a conscious sense of the divine favour ; no discordant and unsocial passion would disturb the harmony of their souls ; and the prospeit of endless felicity would smooth the more rugged part of their duty . No
religious institution ever appeared in the world , so perfectly _ adapted as Christianity , to give tranquillity of mind in every situation of life , and to cement the whole human race together , with friendship and brotherl y love . Every man of genuine piety and benevolence , will refleCt on its amiable tendency with growing satisfaction , and pray , that all nations were under its happy influence . But , alas ! the excess
Of self-love ; which , as already shewn , was the orig inal source of discord among men , has excluded the gospel from a great part of the world , and rendered it too ineffectual where it is professed . Worldly objeCts have , by their false charms , reduced the attention of mankind from those that are heavenly , and fixed it wholly , or for the greater part , on themselves . From this sketch of Christianity , I go on to explain the principles of Free-Masonry , and to shew you how they tend to correct the follies and injuries that men commit against one another .
My Brethren , yoa have already heard that the violation ot the adjustment given originally to the human affections , is the cause-of those evils whicli spring from society . ' You arc now to observe , that , amidst all the dissentions which this violation produced in ecclesiastical and civil ' government , there are certain articles in which all nations and societies are agreed . All men who make any use of their reason , acknowledthe existence of a Beingwho madeand presides over the
ge , , wOrld ; that he ought to be worshipped by ail his intelligent creatures ; that every person ought to abstain from hurting the charaCter , life , or fortune of his neig hbour ; that obedience is due to the laws of temperance , sobriety , and chastity ; and that every man is accountable to God for his condufi . 'Tis true , though all men admit of the truth of these articles in . general , yet , when they exp lain the manner in which extremel
they conceive them , their opinions about them are y wide of one another . Some , for . instance , hold the Deity to be' an eternal , incomprehensible , . and holy spirit ; and others , on the contrary , have conceived him as corporeal , and subjeCt to human passions . Again , some contend that he created and governs all things from -a generous princile of imparting happ iness to his creatures ; but others argue that
p his whole conduCt is directed -b y a regard for his own glory , which he manifests by saving a few men , and condemning all the rest to eternal perdition , But though divines in all ages and relig ions have kindled B 2