An
ENCOMIASTICK EPIGRAM Upon the most ANTIENT and HONOURABLE TRADE OF MASONS.
AMong
Mechanicks, MASONS I extoll,
And with the best I doubt not to Enroll.
Before the
Flood
Antiquity and Noble Precedents.
Antiquity they Claime,The MASON then must have an antient Name.
VVhen Godly
Josephus de Antiq. Jud.
Jude Epist.
Enoch by his
Divine Art,He did foretell how that the VVorld should smart
By Fire and Water, he two Pillars made,
The one with
Brick, and one with
Stone was laid:
He wrote thereon all
Sciences and
Arts,
Some knowledge to Diffuse in all Mens hearts.
If Water came, the
Stone might it endure;
The
Brick the Fire; so all continued sure.
The
Exod. 32.
Moral-Law, in writ none could it have,Till
GOD Himself in
Stone he must it Grave.
For
Hewing Stone, none can put you to shame,
Honourable and mysterious Badge.
The
Corner-Stone, to
JESƲS is a Name:For this I think the MASON must be Blest,
From antient times he hath a
Divine
A
Metaphore taken from a part of the Coat of
Arms.
Crest.
A Character whereby they know each other,
And yet so
Secret, none knows but a Brother.
All Temples, Turrets,
Noble and Stately Works.
Pallaces of Kings,All Castles, Steeples, and such other things:
Strong Holds and Houses, which do long endure,
Do owe all what they have to MASONS CURE.
All Courts great Grandeur, and Magnifick State,
What Pomp they have, from MASONS they do get;
The
strictest Laws they have for
Laws and Order.
Common-well,The
greatest Charity when BRETHREN fail.
Symbols Divine,
The Sum of all.
Pomp, Dwelling, Law and
Love;Few are the
Men who do such
Tradsmen prove.