Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Sermon Preached Before The Grand Lodge Of The Most Ancient And Honourable Fraternity
A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE GRAND LODGE OF THE MOST ANCIENT AND HONOURABLE FRATERNITY
OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF ENGLAND ,
ACCORDING TO THE OLD CONSTITUTIONS , At CAMBERWEIX CHURCH , on Tuesday the z $ ib Day of June 17 SS being the Anniversary , of the Festival of ST . JOHN the BAPTIST . BY COLIN MILNE , LL . D ; GRAND CHAPLAIN TO THE FRATERNITY .
Concluded from Page 159 ; i . nij '^ HE 'very name of . our profession ^ which is that of a laborious JjL mechanical , art , whilst it sufficiently indicates its operativi nature , as plainly declares the necessity ; and enforces the constant
practice of industry ; that useful virtue , the great importance of which * and its influence in promoting the . happiness of men , both in their individual and collective capacity , we cannot too much , nor too fre ^ . quently inculcate . The fact is , that to be capable of high attainments of any kind , there is . required in the mind a previous bent to activity and diligence . Of slothfulness * indeed , whether it respect time eternity always with truth affirmthat ! it cast ' s ihioa
or , we may , . . deep sleep , stupifying the mind , and detaining its' powers in a . state of lethargic insensibility ; Industry , therefore , which is the opposite of sloth , possesses a distinguished place among the virtues , as on . its exertion depends the proper exercise of all the rest . It is the speciaj dictate of nature * , which through all her- works is ever active and
* From Nature ire have various indication ' s of this excellent virtue ; The ¦ measured motions of the heavenly bodies , the circulation of the blood and of the sap , the course of rivers , the fiui and reflux of the sea , trie instinctive industry of the various tribes of animals — all proclaim the necessity and use of actiany and with one voice reproach the indolent and inactive . Go to ihe ant , thou sluggard , says Solomon * consider her -ways , and be wise ; -wbicb having no guide , overseer j or rulerprovidelb her meat in the summerand gatheretb her foodin the harvest ( a ) Nor is
, , , , it only from the objects without us that Nature inculcates the useful lesson .-When we view the constitution of man himself , we cannot fail to be convincedy that both the organs of his body , and the faculties of his mind , equally admonislJ ¦ him that he is formed for action ; and , indeed , without it , not only would-those ( a ) Proverbs vi . 6 , 7 , 8 , VOL . IV , G g
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Sermon Preached Before The Grand Lodge Of The Most Ancient And Honourable Fraternity
A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE GRAND LODGE OF THE MOST ANCIENT AND HONOURABLE FRATERNITY
OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF ENGLAND ,
ACCORDING TO THE OLD CONSTITUTIONS , At CAMBERWEIX CHURCH , on Tuesday the z $ ib Day of June 17 SS being the Anniversary , of the Festival of ST . JOHN the BAPTIST . BY COLIN MILNE , LL . D ; GRAND CHAPLAIN TO THE FRATERNITY .
Concluded from Page 159 ; i . nij '^ HE 'very name of . our profession ^ which is that of a laborious JjL mechanical , art , whilst it sufficiently indicates its operativi nature , as plainly declares the necessity ; and enforces the constant
practice of industry ; that useful virtue , the great importance of which * and its influence in promoting the . happiness of men , both in their individual and collective capacity , we cannot too much , nor too fre ^ . quently inculcate . The fact is , that to be capable of high attainments of any kind , there is . required in the mind a previous bent to activity and diligence . Of slothfulness * indeed , whether it respect time eternity always with truth affirmthat ! it cast ' s ihioa
or , we may , . . deep sleep , stupifying the mind , and detaining its' powers in a . state of lethargic insensibility ; Industry , therefore , which is the opposite of sloth , possesses a distinguished place among the virtues , as on . its exertion depends the proper exercise of all the rest . It is the speciaj dictate of nature * , which through all her- works is ever active and
* From Nature ire have various indication ' s of this excellent virtue ; The ¦ measured motions of the heavenly bodies , the circulation of the blood and of the sap , the course of rivers , the fiui and reflux of the sea , trie instinctive industry of the various tribes of animals — all proclaim the necessity and use of actiany and with one voice reproach the indolent and inactive . Go to ihe ant , thou sluggard , says Solomon * consider her -ways , and be wise ; -wbicb having no guide , overseer j or rulerprovidelb her meat in the summerand gatheretb her foodin the harvest ( a ) Nor is
, , , , it only from the objects without us that Nature inculcates the useful lesson .-When we view the constitution of man himself , we cannot fail to be convincedy that both the organs of his body , and the faculties of his mind , equally admonislJ ¦ him that he is formed for action ; and , indeed , without it , not only would-those ( a ) Proverbs vi . 6 , 7 , 8 , VOL . IV , G g