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Article THE FREEMASONS' REPOSITORY . ← Page 3 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Repository .
power and goodness , impartially and graciously communicates the common blessings of his providence to all without exception , ' making his sun to rise and his rain to fall' for the general benefit and comfort of all his creatures : infinitely more indeed does it enlarge our ideas ofthe same God and Father ofthe universe , to consider him , at his appointed season , with the same impartial , diffusive goodness , distributing to all his moral creatures the most important of all blessings ,
that knowled ge which is necessary to direct their steps in the paths of virtue , that light which is to guide and conduct them to celestial , ineffable bliss iu a future , never ending state . it was , doubtless , with a far more extensive view , than the partial benefit of one inconsiderable people , however highly favoured , that the promise of a Messiah was at first given to the common parents of all mankind , that the expectation of his coming was spread through all nations , that he was proclaimed with all the solemuitv ofan embassy
from Heaven , and made known the nature and end of his divine mission at a season , the most favourable in all its circumstances to render the promulgation of it universal . It could not be said that any people , nation , or language was unconcerned in the commission : the degeneracy and corruption which called for this extraordinary interposition was not the character of
one people only ; it had spread its infection wide , and the effects were too sensibly felt , for all men had corrupted their ways : as the disease therefore was universal , it is agreeable to all adequate conceptions of a just and righteous God , whose mercy is over all his works , to conclude that it was his intention , in his own appointed time , equally to extend to all the salutary remedy .
On the same account , then , that God continues to deli ght in displaying to all men that particular attribute of his mercy and compassion , mustit necessarily follow that he is desirous that all , whom he has endued with rational souls , should do their utmost to be merciful as he is merciful , to be in their proportion kind and benevolent to
each other , and in this respect , as far as human frailty will permit , to be perfeft , " even as our Father , which is in Heaven , is perfect . ' To this end he has endowed us with admirable powers aud faculties , and hath implanted in our very nature such affections and propensities as readil y dispose us to the exercise of social duties . He hath so framed and constituted our nature , so disposed the circumstances of
our present allotment , and hath at the same time intimately combined the interests of men , that friendship and society are -become necessary to our comfortable subsistence , in this transitory stage of our existence : this complicated and dependent scene of things ; while each , from the experience of his own wants and exigencies , becomes amply convinced of the reasonablenesss and necessityas far as his
, abilities extend , of doing good to all around him ; this readiness to communicate , being the surest means , of securing to ourselves a more lasting enjoyment of what we possess ; like building a wall of defence about our own blessings ; laying tip our treasures in greater security , and purchasing a still- stronger title to it - .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Repository .
power and goodness , impartially and graciously communicates the common blessings of his providence to all without exception , ' making his sun to rise and his rain to fall' for the general benefit and comfort of all his creatures : infinitely more indeed does it enlarge our ideas ofthe same God and Father ofthe universe , to consider him , at his appointed season , with the same impartial , diffusive goodness , distributing to all his moral creatures the most important of all blessings ,
that knowled ge which is necessary to direct their steps in the paths of virtue , that light which is to guide and conduct them to celestial , ineffable bliss iu a future , never ending state . it was , doubtless , with a far more extensive view , than the partial benefit of one inconsiderable people , however highly favoured , that the promise of a Messiah was at first given to the common parents of all mankind , that the expectation of his coming was spread through all nations , that he was proclaimed with all the solemuitv ofan embassy
from Heaven , and made known the nature and end of his divine mission at a season , the most favourable in all its circumstances to render the promulgation of it universal . It could not be said that any people , nation , or language was unconcerned in the commission : the degeneracy and corruption which called for this extraordinary interposition was not the character of
one people only ; it had spread its infection wide , and the effects were too sensibly felt , for all men had corrupted their ways : as the disease therefore was universal , it is agreeable to all adequate conceptions of a just and righteous God , whose mercy is over all his works , to conclude that it was his intention , in his own appointed time , equally to extend to all the salutary remedy .
On the same account , then , that God continues to deli ght in displaying to all men that particular attribute of his mercy and compassion , mustit necessarily follow that he is desirous that all , whom he has endued with rational souls , should do their utmost to be merciful as he is merciful , to be in their proportion kind and benevolent to
each other , and in this respect , as far as human frailty will permit , to be perfeft , " even as our Father , which is in Heaven , is perfect . ' To this end he has endowed us with admirable powers aud faculties , and hath implanted in our very nature such affections and propensities as readil y dispose us to the exercise of social duties . He hath so framed and constituted our nature , so disposed the circumstances of
our present allotment , and hath at the same time intimately combined the interests of men , that friendship and society are -become necessary to our comfortable subsistence , in this transitory stage of our existence : this complicated and dependent scene of things ; while each , from the experience of his own wants and exigencies , becomes amply convinced of the reasonablenesss and necessityas far as his
, abilities extend , of doing good to all around him ; this readiness to communicate , being the surest means , of securing to ourselves a more lasting enjoyment of what we possess ; like building a wall of defence about our own blessings ; laying tip our treasures in greater security , and purchasing a still- stronger title to it - .