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Article THE FREEMASONS' REPOSITORY . ← Page 4 of 4
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Repository .
"These truths , we find , are confirmed to us by thelight of revelation ; and as Christians , we are to look upon ourselves as brethren in a more peculiar manner , being all the children of God in Christ , members of the same body , partakers of the same spirit , and heirs of the same blessed hope ' of immortality . Charity is spoken of in scripture as one of the first Christian graces , as the great article upon which men and that which above all other virtues
will be tried at the last day , will make way for their final admission into life and glory . To a most exalted degree of brotherly affeftion towards each other would the gospel truths naturally lead us ; did we but allow them their full influence upon our minds , they would divest us of every narrow and contracted notion ; instrufting us , that as all men are brethren by nature , so Christians are more striftly united by grace : that
consequently , compassion and love are debts naturally clue to every one who carries about him any share of our Creator ' s image , as being children of one common parent : and that the highest degree of mutual affeftion should , knit together the hearts of those who are already spiritually united to Christ , as members of his mystical body , and as bavin"' a'joint interest in him their common Redeemer : so that we God in proposed to
have not only the example of ' s goodness general our imitati n , but , as Christians , we have it in a more particular and extraordinary manner set before us in that singular instance of the redemption of mankind by the death of his Son . Agreeable to the general design of a religion , so evidently intended to en large its foundation the rules it prescribes for the government of the heart
, are and affections . They are adapted to the nature of man as a reasonable and social creature ; founded upon principles applicable to his frame and constitution , and altogether independent of any peculiar circumstances which distinguish one nation from another , and are calculated virtues wine
to regulate the general behaviour , by promoting ttiose . u equally form the duty and happ iness . oi all mankind . Our Saviour , while upon earth , went continually about doing good , aud hath lelt us an ex-imple that we should follow his steps . Every affeftion and disposition , friendly in its exercise to the union , good order , and'happiness ofthe world , or which had a natural tento harmonize the soulto form it to gentleness and lacency
dency , comp , and to raise and foster the seeds of universal love and piety , was cultivated and improved by the benevolent spirit of the gospe .. its gracious design was to assist every humane and social virtue already planted in the heart ; to encourage its cultivation ; to give ' it strengtn to -hoot forth for the general comfort and happiness of man , and not to leave it enirelv to depend upon the efforts of nature , to quicken
its growth , and-bring-it to maturity . With the strictest prop riety , therefore , it isthatthe scriptures lay so great a stress upon the practice of universal benevolence ,, since it is a temper and disposition of mind , of all others , the most perfects of our rational nature . [ TO 1 SK CONCLUDED W- . OUB NEXT . ] .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Repository .
"These truths , we find , are confirmed to us by thelight of revelation ; and as Christians , we are to look upon ourselves as brethren in a more peculiar manner , being all the children of God in Christ , members of the same body , partakers of the same spirit , and heirs of the same blessed hope ' of immortality . Charity is spoken of in scripture as one of the first Christian graces , as the great article upon which men and that which above all other virtues
will be tried at the last day , will make way for their final admission into life and glory . To a most exalted degree of brotherly affeftion towards each other would the gospel truths naturally lead us ; did we but allow them their full influence upon our minds , they would divest us of every narrow and contracted notion ; instrufting us , that as all men are brethren by nature , so Christians are more striftly united by grace : that
consequently , compassion and love are debts naturally clue to every one who carries about him any share of our Creator ' s image , as being children of one common parent : and that the highest degree of mutual affeftion should , knit together the hearts of those who are already spiritually united to Christ , as members of his mystical body , and as bavin"' a'joint interest in him their common Redeemer : so that we God in proposed to
have not only the example of ' s goodness general our imitati n , but , as Christians , we have it in a more particular and extraordinary manner set before us in that singular instance of the redemption of mankind by the death of his Son . Agreeable to the general design of a religion , so evidently intended to en large its foundation the rules it prescribes for the government of the heart
, are and affections . They are adapted to the nature of man as a reasonable and social creature ; founded upon principles applicable to his frame and constitution , and altogether independent of any peculiar circumstances which distinguish one nation from another , and are calculated virtues wine
to regulate the general behaviour , by promoting ttiose . u equally form the duty and happ iness . oi all mankind . Our Saviour , while upon earth , went continually about doing good , aud hath lelt us an ex-imple that we should follow his steps . Every affeftion and disposition , friendly in its exercise to the union , good order , and'happiness ofthe world , or which had a natural tento harmonize the soulto form it to gentleness and lacency
dency , comp , and to raise and foster the seeds of universal love and piety , was cultivated and improved by the benevolent spirit of the gospe .. its gracious design was to assist every humane and social virtue already planted in the heart ; to encourage its cultivation ; to give ' it strengtn to -hoot forth for the general comfort and happiness of man , and not to leave it enirelv to depend upon the efforts of nature , to quicken
its growth , and-bring-it to maturity . With the strictest prop riety , therefore , it isthatthe scriptures lay so great a stress upon the practice of universal benevolence ,, since it is a temper and disposition of mind , of all others , the most perfects of our rational nature . [ TO 1 SK CONCLUDED W- . OUB NEXT . ] .