21 



we pursue," will acknowledge the value of virtue as 

 far, immeasurably far, beyond that of fame. 



But that, which will be ever present, pervading 

 these shades, like the noon-day sun, and shedding 

 cheerfulness around, is the consciousness, the irrepres- 

 sible consciousness, amidst all these lessons of human 

 mortality, of the higher truth, that we are beings, not 

 of time but of eternity — " That this corruptible must 

 put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on im- 

 mortality." That this is but the threshold and start- 

 ing point of an existence, compared with whose dura- 

 tion the ocean is but as a drop, nay the whole crea- 

 tion an evanescent quantity. 



Let us banish, then, the thought, that this is to be 

 the abode of a gloom, which will haunt the imagina- 

 tion by its terrors, or chill the heart by its solitude. 

 Let us cultivate feelings and sentiments more worthy 

 of ourselves, and more worthy of Christianity. Here 

 let us erect the memorials of our love, and our grati- 

 tude, and our glory. Here let the brave repose, who 

 have died in the cause of their country. Here let the 

 statesman rest, who has achieved the victories of 

 peace, not less renowned than war. Here let genius 

 find a home, that has sung immortal strains, or has 

 instructed with still diviner eloquence. Here let 

 learning and science, the votaries of inventive art, 

 and the teacher of the philosophy of nature come. 

 Here let youth and beauty, blighted by premature 

 decay, drop, like tender blossoms, into the virgin 

 earth ; and here let age retire, ripened for the har- 



