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ness. Yet, when the first tumults of anguish were 

 passed, they visited the spot, and strewed flowers, and 

 garlands, and crowns around it, to assuage their grief, 

 and nourish their piety. They delighted to make it 

 the abode of the varying beauties of Nature ; to give 

 it attractions, which should invite the busy and the 

 thoughtful ; and yet, at the same time, afford ample 

 scope for the secret indulgence of sorrow. 



Why should not Christians imitate such examples ? 

 They have far nobler motives to cultivate moral sen- 

 timents and sensibilities ; to make cheerful the path- 

 ways to the grave ; to combine with deep meditations 

 on human mortality the sublime consolations of re- 

 ligion. We know, indeed, as they did of old, that 

 " man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go 

 about the streets." But that home is not an ever- 

 lasting home ; and the mourners may not weep as 

 those, who are without hope. What is the grave to 

 Us, but a thin barrier dividing Time from Eternity, 

 and Earth from Heaven ? What is it but " the ap- 

 pointed place of rendezvous, where all the travellers 

 on life's journey meet" for a single night of repose — 



" 'T is but a night — a long and moonless night, 

 We make the Grave our Bed, and then are gone.' 



Know we not 



" The time draws on 



When not a single spot of burial earth, 

 Whether on land, or in the spacious sea. 

 But must give up its long committed dust 

 Inviolate ?" — 



Why then should we darken with systematic caution 

 all the avenues to these repositories ? Why should 



