The Golden Themis

CAPVT II.

That the laws which the first author—unknown to others—prescribed for the R. C. Fraternity are nothing but good and lawful.

Just as no one of sound mind can deny the supreme necessity and utility of the best laws, so not undeservedly ought one to praise them and extol them with worthy commendation, so that the spur for the hesitant or the reward for the obedient and for virtue might not be lacking. And since those six positions of laws prescribed by the Venerable Fraternity of the R. C. to its order by the first author are of this kind, it seems worth our while if we examine them more exquisitely and praise them and deem them worthy of their honor, insofar as they agree with the truth of the matter, nature, equity, and the utility of men.

For it is consistent with reason that that society, if it is good, be held by good laws, and if otherwise, the opposite. But we presuppose that it is nothing other than the best and lawful, and we conclude this from the individual circumstances with which these positions undoubtedly agree. We recognize their number to be the six of the first perfection, not overwhelming the confederates with any confusion or excessive rigor. Where many and various laws are founded, it is probable that many enormities happen. For he who neglects the straight path of nature and reason must walk through various detours in order to arrive at the same