Death alone can insure reputation, and nothing short of religion can consecrate it. Our grandees are abundantly aware of this. Hence the sumptuousness of their monuments in our churches. It is not that the clergy make a point of their being interred there, as many imagine. The clergy would equally receive their perquisites, were the interment in the country: and they would be relieved from breathing, all the year round, the putrid exhalations of carcasses. The principal obstacle to this necessary reform in our police, proceeds from the great and the rich, who are seldom disposed to crowd the church in their life-time, are eager for admission after their death, that the people may admire their superb mausolea, and their virtues pourtrayed in brass and marble. But thanks to the allegorical representations of our artists, and to the Latin inscriptions of our literati, the people know nothing about the matter; and the only reflection they make, at sight of them, is, that all this must have cost an enormous sum of money; and that such a vast quantity of copper might be converted, to advantage, into porridge pots. Religion alone has the power of consecrating, in a manner that shall last, the memory of virtue. p. 52. I would have monuments of every kind, apportioned to the various degrees of merit. I would have no Latin inscriptions, nor mythological expressions, nor any thing that savoured of the Academy. Still less would I admit of dignities, or of honours, which call to remembrance the vain ideas of the world; I would retrench from them all the qualities which are destroyed by death; no importance should there be assigned but to good actions, which survive the man and the citizen, and which are the only titles that posterity cares for, and that God recompenses. The inscriptions upon them should be simple, and be naturally suggested by each particular subject. For Example p. 63. I was odious in THE SIGHT OF GOD AND MAN; But, Melted into Penitence, I have made my peace with Heaven by contrition, and have Repaired the mischief which I had done to Men, by BEFRIENDING THE MISERABLE. I have learned to despise THE VAIN DELIGHTS OF THE WORLD; and now I ENJOY HAPPINESS. He fulfilled the two great precepts of the Law: HE LOVED GOD AND MAN. Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; For, SHE LOVED MUCH. Virtue is an effort made upon ourselves, for THE GOOD OF MEN, in the view of PLEASING GOD ONLY. The smallest act of VIRTUE IS OF MORE VALUE Than the exercise of THE GREATEST TALENTS. WHEN AFFLICTION IS AT THE HEIGHT, Then We are the most encouraged to look for Consolation : The narrowest part of the defile is At THE ENTRANCE OF THE PLAIN, Whoever has cordially devoted his Soul TO GOD, Has effectually secured himself against all the ills which can befall him, BOTH IN THIS WORLD AND IN THE NEXT. HE WHO HAS PROVIDED Light for the eye of Man, Sounds for his ear, perfumes for his smell, and fruits for his palate, will find The means of one day replenishing his heart, which nothing here below can satisfy. WHEN A MAN STUDIES THE WORLD, He prizes those only who possess Sagacity; But, WHEN HE STUDIES HIMSELF, He esteems only those who exercise Indulgence. p. 69. -VÓL. I. 20* |