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  • March 1, 1796
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The Freemasons' Magazine, March 1, 1796: Page 13

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    Article A SERMON, ← Page 4 of 7 →
Page 13

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

A Sermon,

ofmutual dependency , God hath plainly constituted them the guardians and protectors of each other ' s welfare , and made their own sympathetic feelings , and conscious expectations , the rule and measure of their mutual dealings . Of Sympathy , indeed , all men are not equally susceptible . They who have a lively imagination and keen feelings are most apt to confess its . But it isin a degreeto be attained bthose of a

energy , , y different description . Habits of attention ; the study of the works of nature ; experience or the contemplation of adversity , and the love of virtue and of mankind , tend greatly to cherish it . Or , should these means fail ; should the view of the miseries of others not be able to excite sympathetic compassion ; yet , the apprehension of our own must infuse into the most obdurate breast a quick sense of the

condition of human nature , and dispose it to the exercise of compassionate and diffusive charity . When miserable objects of any kind present themseh'es to us , or are recommended to our notice or commiseration , methinks it Avould be hardly possible for us to be unaffected by their distresses , did Ave properly reflect on the Avretched and helpless state in Avhich we were

introduced into the world , or consider IIOAV soon we mig ht be reduted to it again . The due consideration of the level to which high and low , rich and poor , one with another , shall be reduced in a future state , is enough to annihilate all adventitious distinctions of rank and fortune . It is , at least , more than sufficient to check the insolence of human vanityand possess the mind with benevolent and tender sensations ;

, since the proudest son of prosperity , who to-day , regardless of the wretchedness of his indigent neighbours , plumes himself on the splendor ofhis condition , and the apparent stability of his eminence , may the next , by the inexplicable vicissitudes of all human affairs , find himself an object of that charitable attention , which , alas ! heso recently denied to others .

Would we but contemplate and reflect on the daily providence of the all-wise and good Creator towards us , we cannot but be sensible of the obligations we are under to assist mankind in general , but particularly that part of them Avhose distressed situation more immediately claims our attention . The benevolent man , Avho derives his chief

pleasure from affording relief to the distresses of his rellow-creatures , enjoys more real satisfaction in one charitable deed , than the luxuriant sensualist finds in all his pride , pomp , and extravagance . And the wretched ( yet fortunate ) object of his charity , while he experiences eveiy mark of kindness from , and is snatched out of ruin and disgrace by those to whose liberality he thought he had no pretensions , is wrapt in ious astonishment at the goodness and providence of that God

p who has thus so miraculously raised for him friends in his distress . Bring before your imagination a hapless , helpless , distressed family , labouring under all the complicated miseries and destruction of poverty and woe . At this critical moment , when their distresses have reduced them to their last mite ; and when—hardly able to struggle longer under this dreadful conflict , Death-is rendered a welcome guest ;

“The Freemasons' Magazine: 1796-03-01, Page 13” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 29 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fmm/issues/fmm_01031796/page/13/.
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Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
Untitled Article 2
LONDON: Article 2
TO READERS, CORRESPONDENTS, &c. Article 3
THE "FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE: AND CABINET OF UNIVERSAL LITERATURE, FOR MARCH 1796. Article 4
THE HAPPINESS OF LIFE ATTRIBUTED TO THE VARIETIES OF HUMAN SENTIMENTS AND OPINIONS. Article 6
COURT OF CHANCERY. Article 8
MR. HOWARD. Article 9
A SERMON, Article 10
THE HISTORY OF A RACEHORSE. Article 16
THE TRUE CIRCUMSTANCES ATTENDING THE DEATH OF MR. HAMPDEN Article 18
ON THE DEPRAVITY OF MANNERS IN DIFFERENT RANKS OF LIFE. Article 20
REMARKABLE DREAMS. Article 21
USEFUL HINTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS. Article 22
NATIONAL CHARACTERS. Article 23
A SATYRICAL HARANGUE, Article 24
A NEW TAX SUGGESTED. Article 25
THEATRICAL INTELLIGENCE Article 26
ANECDOTE OF MONTECUCULI, Article 27
CHARACTERISTICS OF POLITENESS Article 27
COPY OF A LETTER FROM SIR JOHN HARRINGTON TO PRINCE HENRY, SON TO KING JAMES I. Article 28
MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS AND REFLECTIONS MADE IN A TOUR THROUGH LONDON, Article 30
THE STAGE. Article 36
ADVICE TO AN ATTORNEY'S CLERK. Article 39
ORIGIN OF THE MAY-POLE. Article 41
BRIEF MEMOIRS OF TLIE HONOURABLE JOHN FORBES, Article 42
A CHARACTER . Article 44
A CHARGE, DELIVERED IN ST. GEORGE'S LODGE AT TAUNTON, IN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET, ON THE FEAST OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, Article 45
ANECDOTES. Article 48
POETRY. Article 50
A NEW MASONIC SONG. Article 51
SONG. Article 52
ON THE DEATH OF THE REV. DR. KIPPIS. Article 53
THE SHIPWRECKED SAILOR. Article 54
ODE TO FLORA. Article 55
A FRAGMENT. Article 55
EPIGRAMS. Article 56
LINES Article 57
EPITAPH. Article 57
PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. Article 58
EXTRACTS FROM MR. OULTON'S " HISTORY OF THE THEATRES OF LONDON, Article 60
MONTHLY CHRONICLE. Article 67
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Page 13

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

A Sermon,

ofmutual dependency , God hath plainly constituted them the guardians and protectors of each other ' s welfare , and made their own sympathetic feelings , and conscious expectations , the rule and measure of their mutual dealings . Of Sympathy , indeed , all men are not equally susceptible . They who have a lively imagination and keen feelings are most apt to confess its . But it isin a degreeto be attained bthose of a

energy , , y different description . Habits of attention ; the study of the works of nature ; experience or the contemplation of adversity , and the love of virtue and of mankind , tend greatly to cherish it . Or , should these means fail ; should the view of the miseries of others not be able to excite sympathetic compassion ; yet , the apprehension of our own must infuse into the most obdurate breast a quick sense of the

condition of human nature , and dispose it to the exercise of compassionate and diffusive charity . When miserable objects of any kind present themseh'es to us , or are recommended to our notice or commiseration , methinks it Avould be hardly possible for us to be unaffected by their distresses , did Ave properly reflect on the Avretched and helpless state in Avhich we were

introduced into the world , or consider IIOAV soon we mig ht be reduted to it again . The due consideration of the level to which high and low , rich and poor , one with another , shall be reduced in a future state , is enough to annihilate all adventitious distinctions of rank and fortune . It is , at least , more than sufficient to check the insolence of human vanityand possess the mind with benevolent and tender sensations ;

, since the proudest son of prosperity , who to-day , regardless of the wretchedness of his indigent neighbours , plumes himself on the splendor ofhis condition , and the apparent stability of his eminence , may the next , by the inexplicable vicissitudes of all human affairs , find himself an object of that charitable attention , which , alas ! heso recently denied to others .

Would we but contemplate and reflect on the daily providence of the all-wise and good Creator towards us , we cannot but be sensible of the obligations we are under to assist mankind in general , but particularly that part of them Avhose distressed situation more immediately claims our attention . The benevolent man , Avho derives his chief

pleasure from affording relief to the distresses of his rellow-creatures , enjoys more real satisfaction in one charitable deed , than the luxuriant sensualist finds in all his pride , pomp , and extravagance . And the wretched ( yet fortunate ) object of his charity , while he experiences eveiy mark of kindness from , and is snatched out of ruin and disgrace by those to whose liberality he thought he had no pretensions , is wrapt in ious astonishment at the goodness and providence of that God

p who has thus so miraculously raised for him friends in his distress . Bring before your imagination a hapless , helpless , distressed family , labouring under all the complicated miseries and destruction of poverty and woe . At this critical moment , when their distresses have reduced them to their last mite ; and when—hardly able to struggle longer under this dreadful conflict , Death-is rendered a welcome guest ;

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