Free Thoughts on God, the Universe, Man, Freemasons, Rosicrucians, and the Philosopher's Stone

things, according to their purpose, etc., etc., and finally arrives at the idea of a Supreme Being Original: "Höchsten Wesen" who possesses all perfections, from whom everything has its origin, and from whom he himself has his existence. He notices his dependence on this Supreme Being; however distant it may seem to be from him, he nevertheless feels it all the more around him in spirit and in the entire structure of the world Original: "Weltbau" — a term used to describe the cosmos as a deliberate, architectural masterpiece of a creator.. Within him blazes an intimate feeling of gratitude that he owes to a Being without whom he does not exist, and cannot be; through whom and in whom he is to expect everything good, great, and magnificent that can be imagined. The connections and relationships in which he stands with this Supreme Being lead him toward trust, reverence, love, and obedience; he feels his duties, and he builds Him temples and altars. He is a good natural man Original: "Naturmensch" — a philosophical concept referring to a person living in a state of nature, uncorrupted by civilization and guided by reason. and glows with his natural religion.

To him, nothing is more important, nothing more interesting, than this unknown God This likely alludes to the "Unknown God" of the Athenians mentioned in the New Testament (Acts 17:23), used here by the author to represent a deity discovered through nature but not yet through scripture., and it seems quite strange to him that He has not made Himself more closely known to humanity, so that He might be more completely worshipped, and so that more satisfaction Original: "Befriedigung" — here meaning a sense of peace or fulfillment. might be granted to the restless heart regarding the uncertain future...