on a journey, thus writes:-"I took a walk to the churchyard; the doors of the church, like the heaven to which they lead, were wide open, and readily admitted an unworthy stranger. Pleased with the opportunity, I resolved to spend a few minutes under the sacred roof." To the serious thoughts which there arose in his mind, whilst he read "the memorials of a promiscuous multitude," we are indebted for those "Meditations," which have been productive of so much good. The pious Christian no sooner enters a Cemetery like that at Kensal-green, than the serious emotions of his mind give rise to reflections such as one of our poets has thus expressed : "What monuments of mighty dead! What tombs of various kinds are found! G Where so many memorials of mortality are to be contemplated, in our connexion with eternity, there is no place which the Christian moralist feels more disposed to visit, than the silent repositories of the dead. The effect which it had on the mind of the celebrated Addison is thus beautifully expressed :-"When I look upon the tombs of the great, every emotion of envy dies in me; when I meet with the grief of parents upon a tomb-stone, my heart melts with compassion; when I see the tombs of parents themselves, I consider the vanity of grieving for those whom we must quickly follow; when I see kings lying by the side of those who deposed themwhen I consider rival wits and statesmen placed side by side, or the holy men who divided the world with their contests and disputes, I reflect with sorrow and astonishment on the little competitions, factions, and debates of mankind; when I read the several dates of the tombs, I consider that great day when we shall all of us be contemporaries, and make an appearance together." When age, and disappointment, and repeated strokes of affliction had deeply affected the mind of the sublime author of the "Night Thoughts," "Warned by the languor of life's evening ray," he used often to meditate in his churchyard; and what can surpass the sublimity of his thoughts on "Death, Time, and Eternity," but those on "The Amazing Price," "The Ransom Paid," for our redemption. To the few who are wont to follow his example, we may apply his words : "The man how blest, who, sick of gaudy scenes, To read his monuments,—to weigh his dust,— The feeling heart." Not only to such minds as those which dis tinguished a Young, an Addison, or a Hervey, but to many a serious Christian of far humbler name, the churchyard has afforded matter for serious meditation. And here we must not omit to mention, with what feelings of piety and devotion the Rev. Legh Richmond looked upon his churchyard; and with what admirable wisdom he improved it, to the edification of his young cottagers. "Sometimes I sent the young children to the various stones which stood at the head of the graves, and bid them learn the Epitaphs inscribed upon them. I took pleasure in seeing the little ones thus dispersed in the churchyard, each committing to memory a few verses written in commemoration of the departed. They would soon accomplish the desired object, and eagerly return to me, ambitious to repeat their task. "Thus my churchyard became a book of instruction, and every grave-stone leaf of edification for my young disciples." * And why should not the lowly stone join with the lofty spire in directing us to set our affections on things above? As the former points like a silent finger to heaven, why should not the latter, by a suitable inscription -an inscription worthy of being read and known of all men, direct and animate us in the way "to glory, and honour, and immortality"? The Epitaphs in a churchyard or cemetery may be said to compose a volume which is open and free to all, and they ought to be worthy of the serious and devout attention of all. The stooping old man cons the engraven record like a second horn-book; the child is proud that he can read it; and the wandering stranger regards it as addressed to himself, no less than to the dearest friend or relative of "The Young Cottager." |