gions of the south — to the worshipper of the sun, and 

 the worshipper of idols — to the Heathen, dwelling 

 in the darkness of his cold mythology, and to the 

 Christian, rejoicing in the light of the true God. 

 Every where we trace them in the characteristic re- 

 mains of the most distant ages and nations, and as 

 far back as human history carries its traditionary out- 

 lines. They are found in the barrows, and cairns, 

 and mounds of olden times, reared by the uninstruct- 

 ed affection of savage tribes ; and, every where, the 

 spots seem to have been selected with the same ten- 

 der regard to the living and the dead ; that the mag- 

 nificence of nature might administer comfort to hu- 

 man sorrow, and incite human sympathy. 



The aboriginal Germans buried their dead in groves 

 consecrated by their priests. The Egyptians gratified 

 their pride and soothed their grief, by interring them 

 in their Elysian fields, or embalming them in their 

 vast catacombs, or enclosing them in their stupendous 

 pyramids, the wonder of all succeeding ages. The 

 Hebrews watched with religious care over their places 

 of burial. They selected, for this purpose, orna- 

 mented gardens, and deep forests, and fertile valleys, 

 and lofty mountains ; and they still designate them 

 with a sad emphasis, as the " House of the Living." 

 The ancient Asiatics lined the approaches to their 

 cities with sculptured sarcophagi, and mausoleums, 

 and other ornaments, embowered in shrubbery, traces 

 of which may be seen among their magnificent ruins. 

 The Greeks exhausted the resources of their exquis- 

 ite art in adorning the habitations of the dead. 



