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Article MASONRY FOUNDED ON SCRIPTURE. ← Page 3 of 6 →
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Masonry Founded On Scripture.
as MASONS ought to do , are bound to perform these several duties . And , lastly , shall make a brief application of the whole- ; and so conclude . First , then , I am to shew what is here meant by doing justly . Doing justly implies that we render to every one their due , custom to ¦ whom custom ; tribute to whom tribute ; honour to whom honour , & c * That we do strict justice to all mankindin every station and in all our
, dealings ; that we defraud no one , j- no not even of his good name , but always keep a tongue of good report , I that speaks as well of our brother behind his back as before his face ; and that we should never be enticed to deceive him ;§ but consta ' ntly endeavour both in deed and word to live as an upright man ; acting so much upon the square , and living so much within the compass of our abilities , as never by our
necessities to be tempted to defraud him of his ri ght :- in short , the whole duty of doing justly is summed up in the text of scripture : Whatsoever ye would that nun should do unto you , even so do imtothem , ' for Ibis is the law and the . prophets . \\ I come now , in the second place , to enquire wdiat is here meant by loving mercy . i . Loving mercy consists in forgiving the injuries we receive from others ;« Jfin subduing our passions ; in abhoring the dictates of malice and revenge ' ; in not doing our own will ; in returning blessings for curses , *
and the like ; having always in our view that bright pattern of mercy , Jesus Christ ; who , when he zvas reviled , reviled not again ; when he suffered , be threatened not ; but committed himself to bimtbat juilgetb righteously .- \ - z . Loving mercy consists in pitying the miseries of others : % for as St . Paul advises , we must zoeep with them that -weep . § And the Prophet Amos pronounces a Wo to them who do not thus pity the
afflicted . JVo , says he , to ( hem that are at ease in Sion , —and that drink wine in bowls , and anoint themselves with the chief ointments ; but are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph . |[ 3 . Loving mercy consists in relieving the necessities of our brethren : Thus to brdberly-lov ? we must add Christian charity or relief , ^! and that according to our abilities , and to the necessities of those
who stand in need of our relief : for thus we are commanded to be kindly affectioned one lo another with brotherly-love , in honour preferring one another * And in so doing we not only follow the direction of the Apos tie , but also the example of the first Christians ; who , we are -informed , determined every man according to his abilities to send relief to ihe brethren which chvelt in Judea , and accordingly sent it to the Elders , by the hands of Barnabas and Saul , f I come now , in the Third place , to enquire what is here meant b y walking humbly with God .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonry Founded On Scripture.
as MASONS ought to do , are bound to perform these several duties . And , lastly , shall make a brief application of the whole- ; and so conclude . First , then , I am to shew what is here meant by doing justly . Doing justly implies that we render to every one their due , custom to ¦ whom custom ; tribute to whom tribute ; honour to whom honour , & c * That we do strict justice to all mankindin every station and in all our
, dealings ; that we defraud no one , j- no not even of his good name , but always keep a tongue of good report , I that speaks as well of our brother behind his back as before his face ; and that we should never be enticed to deceive him ;§ but consta ' ntly endeavour both in deed and word to live as an upright man ; acting so much upon the square , and living so much within the compass of our abilities , as never by our
necessities to be tempted to defraud him of his ri ght :- in short , the whole duty of doing justly is summed up in the text of scripture : Whatsoever ye would that nun should do unto you , even so do imtothem , ' for Ibis is the law and the . prophets . \\ I come now , in the second place , to enquire wdiat is here meant by loving mercy . i . Loving mercy consists in forgiving the injuries we receive from others ;« Jfin subduing our passions ; in abhoring the dictates of malice and revenge ' ; in not doing our own will ; in returning blessings for curses , *
and the like ; having always in our view that bright pattern of mercy , Jesus Christ ; who , when he zvas reviled , reviled not again ; when he suffered , be threatened not ; but committed himself to bimtbat juilgetb righteously .- \ - z . Loving mercy consists in pitying the miseries of others : % for as St . Paul advises , we must zoeep with them that -weep . § And the Prophet Amos pronounces a Wo to them who do not thus pity the
afflicted . JVo , says he , to ( hem that are at ease in Sion , —and that drink wine in bowls , and anoint themselves with the chief ointments ; but are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph . |[ 3 . Loving mercy consists in relieving the necessities of our brethren : Thus to brdberly-lov ? we must add Christian charity or relief , ^! and that according to our abilities , and to the necessities of those
who stand in need of our relief : for thus we are commanded to be kindly affectioned one lo another with brotherly-love , in honour preferring one another * And in so doing we not only follow the direction of the Apos tie , but also the example of the first Christians ; who , we are -informed , determined every man according to his abilities to send relief to ihe brethren which chvelt in Judea , and accordingly sent it to the Elders , by the hands of Barnabas and Saul , f I come now , in the Third place , to enquire what is here meant b y walking humbly with God .