Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Magazine, Or General And Complete Library.
Kainan , Mahalaleel , Jared , and Enoch * . The latter , as 3 . monument of his superior abilities and love to posterity , foreseeing the universal desolation which would soon happen by water or fire , and deprive mankind of those arts and sciences already improved , raised two large pillars , one of brick , the other of stone , and inscribed thereon an abridgment of the arts and sciences ; that if the pillar of brick
happened to be overthrown by the flood , the other of stone might remain ; which Josephus f tells us was to be seen in his time , in the land of Siriad , by the name of Seth's or Enoch ' s pillar . It is more 'than probable that about this time astronomy began to be studied ; for , as there is nothing more surprising than the regularity of the heavenly luminaries , it is easy to judge that one of the
Iirst objects of attention for mankind would be , to consider their courses , and to observe their periods . It could not be curiosity only that prompted men to apply themselves to astronomical speculations ; necessity itself must have dictated them . For if the seasons are not observed , which are distinguished by the planetary motions , it is impossible to succeed in agriculture . If the duration of the month and year were not determined , a certain order could not be established in civil affairs ; nor could the days allotted to the exercise of religion be fixed . Thus , as neither agriculture , polity , nor religion , could
dispense with the want -of astronomy , it is evident that mankind were obliged to apply themselves to the sciences from the beginning of the world . The posterity of Seth , who had for many ages retained their integrity in the true worship of God , and a close application to sciences , were at last infected with the same contagion of pvofaneness and immorality as the race of Cain ; so that all sorts of wickedness
overspread the earth : this depravity at last ended in their destruction and extirpation bv the deluge , in which all the human race perished , except Noah and his family J . Here was a dismal face of things : instead of the earth , adorned with the productions of nature , and the improvements of art , a watery desart appeared , which offered nothing to the view of [ -leaven but the floating wrecks of man and his
fellowcreatures , swept away in one common destruction ! This was the most dreadful and amazing judgment , the most horrid and portentous catastrophe that nature ever yet saw || . Preparatory to this awful desolation , God commanded Noah to build a great ark § , or floating castle , wherein his family , with an assortment of every species of animals might be preserved to
replenish the earth , when the intended judgment was completed ; and Tlie assistance of his three sons in this great undertaking may be conceived as in the capacity of a deputy and two wardens . Geometrical principles , and architectural proportions , being common to all
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Magazine, Or General And Complete Library.
Kainan , Mahalaleel , Jared , and Enoch * . The latter , as 3 . monument of his superior abilities and love to posterity , foreseeing the universal desolation which would soon happen by water or fire , and deprive mankind of those arts and sciences already improved , raised two large pillars , one of brick , the other of stone , and inscribed thereon an abridgment of the arts and sciences ; that if the pillar of brick
happened to be overthrown by the flood , the other of stone might remain ; which Josephus f tells us was to be seen in his time , in the land of Siriad , by the name of Seth's or Enoch ' s pillar . It is more 'than probable that about this time astronomy began to be studied ; for , as there is nothing more surprising than the regularity of the heavenly luminaries , it is easy to judge that one of the
Iirst objects of attention for mankind would be , to consider their courses , and to observe their periods . It could not be curiosity only that prompted men to apply themselves to astronomical speculations ; necessity itself must have dictated them . For if the seasons are not observed , which are distinguished by the planetary motions , it is impossible to succeed in agriculture . If the duration of the month and year were not determined , a certain order could not be established in civil affairs ; nor could the days allotted to the exercise of religion be fixed . Thus , as neither agriculture , polity , nor religion , could
dispense with the want -of astronomy , it is evident that mankind were obliged to apply themselves to the sciences from the beginning of the world . The posterity of Seth , who had for many ages retained their integrity in the true worship of God , and a close application to sciences , were at last infected with the same contagion of pvofaneness and immorality as the race of Cain ; so that all sorts of wickedness
overspread the earth : this depravity at last ended in their destruction and extirpation bv the deluge , in which all the human race perished , except Noah and his family J . Here was a dismal face of things : instead of the earth , adorned with the productions of nature , and the improvements of art , a watery desart appeared , which offered nothing to the view of [ -leaven but the floating wrecks of man and his
fellowcreatures , swept away in one common destruction ! This was the most dreadful and amazing judgment , the most horrid and portentous catastrophe that nature ever yet saw || . Preparatory to this awful desolation , God commanded Noah to build a great ark § , or floating castle , wherein his family , with an assortment of every species of animals might be preserved to
replenish the earth , when the intended judgment was completed ; and Tlie assistance of his three sons in this great undertaking may be conceived as in the capacity of a deputy and two wardens . Geometrical principles , and architectural proportions , being common to all