DISCOURSE II. Delivered at Oxford, September 13, 1798, at the Consecration of the Olive Branch Lodge. 66 LUKE II. 14. GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE AND GOOD WILL TOWARDS MEN." THE Angelic hosts, bringing “good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people," descended to earth from their spheres of celestial glory to announce the arrival of the long expected Messiah; "the desire of all nations." They came as the retinue of the Heavenly Prince, to honour his mission, and congratulate mankind on his advent. Transported with the happy prospects which were now opening to the view of the world, they pronounced ". peace on earth and good will towards 'men," to be the design and legitimate fruits of this new dispensation. The words of our text form the choral song with which they celebrated an event so glorious to God, so auspicious to man; express the matter, as well as ground and reason of their acclamations of joy; and supply a fit topic of discourse before an institution which breathes the same sentiment, and co-operates with the same plans of benevolence and peace. In commenting upon them, we shall consider how they are indicative of the design and effect of the Christian Religion; and then apply them to the purposes of the present assembling, by shewing how expressive they are of the pacific and benevolent disposition of Free Masonry. LET us, first, examine the peaceful genius and tendency of the CHRISTIAN RELIGION. THE many prophecies, in the Old Testament, which relate to the Messiah, and intimate the design and foretel the effect of his mission, uniformly speak of him as coming to restore peace on earth, and to promote the best temporal and spiritual interests of mankind. They give him the title of "the Prince of Peace."* They declare, that "of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end." They describe the genius and auspicious influence of that dominion which he will exercise, (after the † Isaiah ix. 7. *Isaiah ix. 6. |