If, therefore, religious knowledge, as to sacred and divine subjects, is now attainable through this medium, the same truths must have existed in each antecedent period, since the days of Noah, and might have been discovered and duly improved. Any just knowledge and belief in the antitype, deduced through the medium of the type, must necessarily elevate the affections, and constitute a devotional exercise. If, therefore, we, in this age of the world, can discover those very interesting and sublime allusions involved in the typical application of the ark, may we not reasonably suppose that Noah, as an inspired man, had a more deep and affecting sense of their moral and spiritual applications. It hence appears, that ancient geometry or Masonry, in relation to the ark, did involve many religious truths. Just as far, therefore, as the mind was led, through this medium, to contemnplate the Divine plan in the economy of redemption, just so far ancient Masonry involved ancient Christianity. If the ark was originally designed to prefigure the eternal salvation of man, through the temporal deliverance of Noah and

his family, we have much reason to be, lieve it was thus understood by that holy man.

The tabernacle, erected by Moses, furnishes another source of religious instruction. A knowledge of the form and workmanship of this moveable tent was, by inspiration, communicated to Moses. All the appendages, as well as the whole service, presented many obvious allusions to future events, and prefigured many important facts, in relation to the Divine plan, as now displayed in the moral system. No doubt, the Jews were taught much religious truth from those symbols. At the feast of tabernacles it appears that occasion was taken to lead their minds from visible objects, to contemplate the invisible things of God, in the future manifestations of his goodness and mercy.

This tabernacle, with all its appendages, was evidently designed by Jehovah, to bring to view religious truths. No doubt, therefore, can be entertained but such knowledge was thence derived according to the Divine purpose.

A knowledge, belief and due reverence of the Divine WORD, constitutes the very essence of all true religion, whe

ther ancient or modern. St. John begins his gospel by saying, "in the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with God, and the WORD was God."Eventhat Omnipotent Being," who spake and it was done, who commanded and it stood fast."-For whom, by whom, and through whom, all things visible and invisible subsist, and shall be made to subserve the highest possible good of the intelligent universe.-That infinite personage, through whose mediatorial office-work are displayed every Divine attribute and perfection, which angels admire, and man is bound to love and adore. This wORD, however mysterious it may appear to the world, has been understood, and held sacred by the Ma sonic order from time immemorial.

From every consideration, therefore, which can be presented on this subject, we have much reason to conclude, that those holy patriarchs of antiquity, who understood the name, and true character of God, were in some sense, according to ancient acceptation, patrons of the genuine and fundamental principles of Masonry. Just as far as they did understand, embrace and patronise such principles, they understood, embraced

and patronised what now are, and ever have been, as far as records can be traced, absolutely essential to the Masonic Institution.

The more substantial part of modern Free-Masonry, consists in exhibiting the great outlines of the Divine economy, in relation to an intelligent universe.— In presenting to view our numerous social and relative duties.-Impressing the heart with a lively sense of moral propriety, and in preparing mankind for the sublime entertainments of a happy immortality.

May we not hence conclude, that those venerable patriarchs of ancient times, were in many respects, led to a discovery of that blessedness, which should afterwards be revealed. That they were made to understand by special revelation, most, if not all the typical allusions of their altars, and the event prefigured in the choice of their sacrifices.

That the whole service of the tabernacle, while in the wilderness, was spiritualized, in a very solemn manner, to the understandings of the pious and devout worshipper.-That the temple of Solomon, also, displayed to the contemplative mind a still higher exhibition of

the eternal purposes of Jehovah, in the great plan of redemption.

That all these things pointed, in some shape, to the great sacrifice which was to atone for the sins of the world, is now abundantly evident.-And that most, if not all, of the ancient fathers, did thus understand them is highly probable if not equally certain. This sacrifice was the eternal WORD, or the second person in the adorable Trinity, as manifested in the flesh. The same WORD, by which Masons in every country do now recognize each other, as having been regularly advanced to the more sublime degrees. This WORD, with its masonic pronunciation, can be traced back in the Institution for more than two thousand years for a certainty. If so, it affords strong presumptive evidence, to say the least, that it has descended not merely from the building of the temple, but even from the ancient fathers, to whom God himself communicated the knowledge of his holy name. However this may have been, the period cannot be fixed when the true name of God was not known and reverenced, in the Masonic Institution. As, therefore, every fundamental principle of our holy reli