what like Ezekiel's Roll, was written over from one End to the other. I foon perceived the Comparifon to hold good in another refpect, and the Infcriptions to be Matter of "Mourning, La mentation, and Woe" They feemed to court my Obfervation, and filently invite me to read them.And what would thefe dumb Monitors inform me of?-Why, That, beneath their little Circumferences were depofited such and fuch Pieces of Clay, that once lived, and moved, and talked That they had received a Charge to preferve their Names, and were the remaining Trustees of their Memory. AH! faid I, is fuch my Situation? The adorable Creator around me, and the Bones of my Fellow-Creatures under me! Surely, then, I have great Reason to cry out with the revering Patriarch, How dreadful is this Place! + Serioufnefs and Devotion become this Houfe for ever. May I never enter it lightly or irreverently; but with a profound Awe, and godly Fear! Oh! that they were wife! || faid the inspired Penman. It was his laft With for his dear People: He breathed it out, and gave up the Ghoft. -But what is Wisdom ? It consists not in refined Speculations; accurate Refearches into Na * Ezek. ii. 10. + Gen. xxviii. 17. xxxii. 29. ture; Deut. ture; or an univerfal Acquaintance with Hiftory. The divine Lawgiver fettles this important Point, in his next Aspiration : Oh! that they understood this! That they had right Apprehenfions of their fpiritual Interests, and eternal Concerns! That they had Eyes to difcern, and Inclinations to purfue, the Things which belong to their Peace! But how fhall they attain this valuable Knowledge? I fend them not, adds the illuftrious Teacher, to turn over all the Volumes of Literature: They may much more expeditioufly acquire this Science of Life, by confidering their latter End. This Spark of Heaven is often loft, under the Glitter of pompous Erudition; but fhines clearly, in the gloomy Manfions of the Tomb. Drowned is this gentle Whisper, amidst the Noife of mortal Affairs; but speaks distinctly, in the Retirements of serious Contemplation. Behold! How providentially I am brought to the School of Wisdom! * The Grave is the most faithful Mafter, and thefe Inftances of Mortality * The Man how wife! who fick of gaudy Scenes, To read his Monuments, to weigh his Duft, + Wait the great Teacher, Death. Pope. lity the most inftructive Lessons.-Come then, calm Attention, and compofe my Thoughts; Come, thou celeftial Spirit, and enlighten my Mind; that I may fo peruse these awful Pages, as to become "wife unte Salvation." EXAMINING the Records of Mortality, I found the Memorials of a § promiscuous Multitude. They were huddled, at leaft, they refted toge ther, without any Regard to Rank or Seniority. None were ambitious of the uppermoft Rooms, or chief Seats, in this Houfe of Mourning. None entertained fond and eager Expectations of being honourably greeted, in their darkfome Cells, The Man of Years and Experience, reputed as an Oracle in his Generation, was content to lye down at the Feet of a Babe. In this House ap pointed for all Living, the Servant was equally accommodated, and lodged in the fame Story, with his Mafter. The poor Indigent lay as foftly, and flept as foundly, as the most opulent Poffeffor, All the Distinction that fubfifted, was, A grafy Hillock, bound with Ofiers; or a fepulchral Stone, ornamented with Imagery. WHY then, faid my working Thoughts, oh! why, fhould we raife fuch a mighty Stir about Superiority and Precedence; when the next Re move 5 Mifta Senum ac Juvenum denfantur Funera. Hor. move will reduce us all to a State of equal Meannefs? Why should we exalt ourselves, or debase others, fince we must all one Day be upon a common Level, and blended together in the fame undiftinguished Duft? Oh! that this Confideration might humble my own, and others Pride; and fink our Imaginations as low, as our Habitation will shortly be !! AM ON G these confufed Relics of Humani ty, there are, without doubt, Perfons of contrary Interefts, and contradicting Sentiments: But Death, like fome able Days-man, has laid his Hand on the contending Parties, and brought all their Differences to an * amicable Conclufion Here Enemies, fworn Enemies, dwell together in Unity. They drop every imbittered Thought, and forget that they once were Foes. Perhaps, their crumbling Bones mix as they moulder; and those who, while they lived, ftood aloof in irreaoncileable Variance, here fall into mutual Embraces, and even incorporate with each other in the Grave.-Oh! that we might learn from these friendly Ashes, not to perpetuate the Memory of Injuries; not to foment the Fever of Resentment; Hi Motus Animorum, atque hæc Certamina tanta ment; nor cherish the Turbulence of Paffion: that there may be as little Animofity and Disagree ment in the Land of the Living, as there is in the Congregation of the Dead! But I fufpend for a while fuch general Obfervations, and addrefs myself to a more particular Inquiry. YONDER white Stone, Emblem of the Innocence it covers, informs the Beholder of One, who breathed out its tender Soul, almost in the Inftant of receiving it.There the peaceful Infant, without so much as knowing what Labour and Vexation mean, "lies ftill and is quiet; it "fleeps and is at Reft." Staying only to wash away its native Impurity in the Laver of Regeneration, it bid a speedy Adieu to Time and terreftrial Things.What did the little hafty Sojourner find fo forbidding and disgustful in our upper World, to occafion its precipitant Exit? 'Tis written, indeed, of its fuffering Saviour, that when He had tafted the Vinegar mingled with Gall, He would not drink†: And did our new-come Stranger begin to sip the Cup of Life, but, perceiving the Bitterness, turn away its Head, and refuse the Draught? Was this the Cause, why the wary Babe only open'd its Eyes; juft looked Job iii. 13. + Matth. xxvii. 34. |