quality. The good Samaritan is the subject of universal praise, and the benevolence which he displayed towards the victim of cruelty, is enhanced by the unfeeling indifference of the Priest and Levite. Luke x. 29. But the forgiving temper, the generous affection, the rigid fidelity, and patient sufferings of Joseph, exhibit charity in the extensive and affecting views, which every good man is anxious to attain.

Blessed and happy is he, who is successful in the amiable ambition of inheriting that quality, which, to use the beautiful language of PRIOR,

"Opens in each heart a little heaven."

He is like the meandering stream, tranquil in itself, and diffusing health and fertility whithersoever it floweth. Benevolence, attended by heaven-born charity, is an honour to all, who are possessed of it. The charitable man envieth not his neighbour, nor does he listen with patience to a tale, which has been repeated to his injury. Revenge or malice hath no place in his breast. He forgiveth the injuries of men, and endeavoureth to blot them from his recollection. Let us, therefore, remember that we are Christians and masons, and as such, let us ever be ready to listen to him, who craveth our assistance, and extend readily, a liberal hand to him, who is in want. Thus shall an heartfelt satisfaction reward our

L

labour, and the blessing of the Most High will await us. "Above all things have fervent charity amongst yourselves; for charity shall cover the multitude of sins." 1 Peter iv. 8.

Charity is, sometimes, taken only for giving alms; and sometimes for having a favourable opinion of our neighbours; but the proper interpretation of the word is LOVE, and St. Paul has fixed its meaning, and clearly shewn its effects in his first epistle to the Corinthians, chap. xiii. of which chapter my readers will be pleased with the following beautiful paraphrase.

"Did sweeter sounds adorn my flowing tongue,
Than ever man pronounced, or angels sung;
Had I all knowledge, human and divine,

Which thought can reach, or science can define;
And had I power to give that knowledge birth,
In all the speeches of the babbling earth;
Did SHADRACH'S zeal my glowing breast inspire,
To weary tortures, and rejoice in fire;
Or had I faith like that, which ISRAEL saw,
When MOSES gave them miracles and law;
Yet gracious CHARITY, indulgent guest,
Were not thy power exerted in my breast,
Those speeches would send up unheeded prayer,
That scorn of life would be but wild despair.
A cymbal's sound were better than
voice;
My faith were form, my eloquence were noise.
CHARITY, decent, modest, easy, kind,
Softens the high, and rears the abject mind;
Knows with just reins and gentle hand to guide,
Betwixt vile shame and arbitrary pride.
Not soon provoked, she easily forgives,
Soft peace she brings, wherever she arrives ;
She builds our quiet, as she forms our lives;

my

Lays the rough paths of peevish nature even,
And opens in each heart a little HEAVEN.
Each other gift, which God on man bestows,
Its proper bounds, and due reflection knows ;
To one fixed purpose dedicates its power,
And finishing its act, exists no more.
Thus in obedience to what HEAVEN decrees,
Knowledge shall fail, and prophecy shall cease.
But lasting CHARITY's more ample sway.
Nor bound by time, nor subject to decay;
In happy triumph shall for ever live,

And endless good diffuse, and endless praise receive.
As thro' the artist's intervening glass

Our eye observes the distant planets pass,

A little we discover, but allow,

That more remains unseen than art can shew;
So whilst our mind to knowledge would improve,
(Its feeble eye intent on things above)
High as we may, we lift our reason up,
By FAITH directed and confirmed by HOPE,
Yet we are able only to survey

Dawnings of beams and promises of day.

HEAVEN'S fuller effluence mocks our dazzled sight;
Too great its swiftness, and too strong its light.
But soon the mediate clouds shall be dispelled;
The sun shall soon be face to face beheld,
In all his robes, with all his glory on,
Seated sublime on his meridian throne.

Then constant FAITH and holy HOPE shall die,
One lost in certainty, and one in joy;
Whilst thou more happy power, fair CHARITY,
Triumphant sister, greatest of the three,
Thy office and thy nature still the same,
Lasting thy lamp, and unconsumed thy flame,
Shalt still survive-

Shalt stand before the host of HEAVEN Confest,
For ever blessing and for ever blest."

I shall conclude this section by a few observations, which ought deeply to be impress

ed on the mind of every free-mason. "The objects of true CHARITY," says Mr. Hutchinson, in his SPIRIT OF MASONRY, " are MERIT and VIRTUE in distress ;-persons, who are incapable of extricating themselves from misfortunes, which have overtaken them in old age; industrious men from inevitable accidents hurled into ruin; widows left survivors of their husbands, by whose labours they subsisted; and orphans in tender years left helpless and exposed to the world."

These are the true objects of charity, and a genuine mason will always endeavour to obviate the difficulties of such persons, without putting them to the painful mortification of soliciting aid.

CHAPTER XI.

Masonic Precepis.

(Extracted from the German.*)

I.

ADORE the Most High, by whose order every thing which exists had its origin, and by whose unremitting operations, every thing is preserved.

Be thankful that thou wert born in a country, which is blessed with the glorious light of the gospel. Confess this divine religion every where, and let none of its duties be neglected. Let all thy actions be distinguished by enlightened piety without bigotry or fanaticism. 11.

Always remember that man is the master piece of the creation; because God created him after his own image, and animated him with his breath. Genesis i. 27, and ii. 7.

III.

Thou owest thy first homage to the Deity, and the second to the authority of civil society.

*These precepts appeared at length in the Free-Mason's Magazine for November and December, 1794. The whole would be too tedious in a work of this kind. It is believed, however, that the following abridgement will be satisfactory to masonic readers, and may prove useful to them as well as others.