Gems From Bro. Lawrence Sterne.

GEMS FROM BRO . LAWRENCE STERNE .

ZOjyVOjy , SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 22 , I 860 .

( Continued from page 201 . ) The third sermon in the first volume of this distinguished brother ' s works is one breathing the very spirit of Freemasonry . It is entitle ^ "Philanthropy Recommended , " and AA'as preached

from the text Luke x ., 86 , 37 . It contains many passages of exceeding beauty , and , in order to be fully appreciated , should be read aJb ovo cod mala from beginning to end . How truthful is the following description of

"the beneA-olent impulse" : — "In " benevolent natures the impulse to pity is so sudden , that like instruments of music Avhich obey the touch —the objects which are fitted to excite such impressions work so instantaneous an effect , that

you would think the will AY as scarce concerned , and that the mind Avas altogether passive in the sympathy AA-hich lier own goodness has excited .

The truth is , the soul is generally in such cases so busily taken up , aud Avholly engrossed by the object of pity , that she does not attend to her own operations , or take leisure to examine the principles upon which she acts . "

The emotions that are supposed to have passed through the good Samaritan ' s mind as he approached the object of his compassion are pourtrayed in Sterne ' s happiest vein of pathos : — " Good God ! Avhat a spectacle of misery do I

behold ! — a man stripped of his raiment — wounded—lying languishing before me upon the ground just ready to expire—Avithout the comfort of a friend to support him in his last agonies , or the prospect of a hand to close his eyes AAdien his pains are over . Bufc , perhaps , my concern should lessen Avhen I reflect on the relations in which Ave

stand to each other—that he is a Jew and I a Samaritan . But are we not still both men , partakers of the same nature , aud subject to the same evils ? Let me change conditions with him for a moment and consider , had his lot befallen

me as I journeyed in the way , what measure I should have expected afc his hand . Should I wish when he beheld me wounded and half dead , that he should shut tip bis bowels of compassion from me , and double the Aveighfc of my miseries by

passing by and leaving them unpitied . But I am a stranger to the man . Be it so ; bufc I am no ranger to his condition . Misfortunes are of no

particular tribe or nation , but oeiong to us all , and have a general claim upon us , Avithout distinction of climate , country , or religion . Besides , though I am a stranger— 'tis no fault of his that I clo not known him , and , therefore , unequitable

be should suffer by it . Had I known him , possibly I should have had cause to love and pifcy bim fche more . For aught I know , he _ is some one of uncommon merit , whose life is rendered still more precious , as the lives ancl happiness of

others may be involved in it . Perhaps at this instant that he lies here forsaken , in all this misery , a whole virtuous family is joyfully lookingfor bis return , and affectionately counting fche hours of his delay . Oh ! did they knoAV what evil hath befallen him ! Let me then hasten to supply those tender offices of binding up his wounds , and

carrying him to a place of safety , or , if thafc assistance comes too late , I shall comfort him at least in his last hour , and , if I can do nothing else , I shall soften his misfortunes by dropping a tear of pity over them . "

Can any person read this touching paragraph , and not determine , in the strength of the Great Architect of the Universe , to " go and do likewise " —to persevere in fche practice of " brotherly love , relief , and truth ? "

Is there nofc much of common sense in Bro . Sterne ' s remarks on human nature ?—" I think there needs no stronger argument fco prove how universally and deeply the seeds of this virtue of compassion are planted in the heart of man , than in the pleasure we take in such representations of it ; ancl though some men have

represented human nature in other colours ( though fco what end I knoAV not ) , that the matter of fact is so strong against them , that from the general propensity to pity the unfortunate , we express that sensation by the Avord humanity , as if ib Avas

inseparable from our nature . That it is not inseparable , I have allowed in the former part of this discourse , from some reproachful instances of selfish tempers , AAdiich seem to take parfc in nothing beyond themselves ; yet I am persuaded ,

and affirm 'tis still so great and noble a part of our nature , that a man must do great violence to himself , and suffer many a painful conflict , before he has brought himself to a different disposition . " The closing remarks of this able sermon are ,

they appear to us , very beautiful , ancl will commend themselves to every good Mason— "'Tis observable in many places of scripture , that our