Abhandlung über die allgemeine Zusammenkunft der Freymaurer, bei den Gesundbrunnen in Wilhelmsbad

can err, and that we must therefore guard ourselves against swearing by their word. (*) Let us not forget that the most virtuous alliances, and even the assemblies of legislators, consist of human beings, and that human beings can err. Guard yourselves against swearing by their word! Otherwise, we might imitate those careless people who prefer the ease of accepting and believing everything over the effort of investigating and convincing themselves. It is to these people that one can cry out: Salmacis, give up the spoils without sweat and blood. This refers to the quote on the previous page, suggesting some seek the rewards of wisdom without doing the intellectual work. As for me; I shall never be so cowardly, so perjured, as to lay down my weapons without having fought. The nature of the struggle I must endure is very noble, for its object is zeal for a venerable association which links its members through a firm bond. In these members, one seeks not so much the false shimmer of noble birth, which is the work of chance, but rather the valuable qualities of the mind and heart: those things which constitute the unshakable foundation of true nobility. The nature of the struggle I must endure is very noble, for I fight with the victorious weapons of a Solomon, Socrates, Plato, Cicero, Puffendorf, Barbeyrac, Domat: in short, with the weapons of the greatest, most venerable

(*) For they are the sons of men, in whom there is no salvation. original Latin: "Sunt enim filii hominum, in quibus non est salus." This is a reference to Psalm 146:3. R. v. S. Initial of a commentator.