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Show [ «n. ing our Welfare? Ought not Dignity in every Diftinction to be refpected ? Ought not proper Powers to be obeyed? Muff w e act as Rebels againft that Regularity which we profefs to preferve, and Community which we unite with ? N o ^ G o d forbid, far be it from us. Seventhly, It teaches us Obfervance to that Precept of letting all Things be done with Order and Decency. Ma- Jons are Profeflbrs of Order, and whatever is contrary to i >rder, is oppoftte to Mafonry. Decency Becomes Gentlemen, and Free Mafons arc Gentlemen by Pr.ofettion, as. maintaining thofe Principles which only can enoblc humane Nature, and render one M a n better than another. 'lis true, w e may receive Nobility and high Titles from our Anceftors, and Mafons are to pay due Refpect to inch as do, upon a temporal Account $ but our Nobility iprings from ourfelves, and w e owe to be our being good Men, that w e are Gentlemen. Their Honours derive from earthly Powers, ours from heavenly. Theirs are fix'd in Royal Patents, ours in Nature itfelf: Nor are we deficient in high Titles and Dignities conferral by Rings, not vain Affumptions of our own, but proceeding from the proper Fountains of temporal Honour. The greateft and wifeft Monarchsjn all Ages have been brothers of our Society $ and as-our Charges were eftablifh'd by their Authority, fo our Titles derive from them, and w e can plainly make it appear, that we fubflft in thofe Pules by a more antient Claim, than any others do in theirs. Ei%hthly, It teaches us to fct fo bright an Example cf Goodnefs to the World, that they muft applaud our laudable Pre fettlon, and all good M e n covet to be amongft us. But, m y Brethren, I muft particularly recommend to you to be cautious of w h o m you receive. Many may he, and are defirous of being admitted, but let us confide* rheir Motives; Is it out of temporal Intereft? Is it out of Curiofity to know our Secrets ? Is it becaufe they are M e n of Fortune, that think for Money they may obtain |