The National Register.
London, England, 1809-04-23 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REpmfrE-R-4.

APRIL 23.

very eye that descends with grief into the grave, is raised,
at the same ,time,•with joy to the skies.• it is not tb'
evcrlastin;•farewell, but the temporary parting,.of those
who live by faith. Confident of the " resurrection to
eternal lifo," these look forward, with ihdiscrihable bliss,
to the society which will consist of the spirits of just men
made perfect. While we fulfill the mournful ceremony
of committing the body to the ground, we enjoy the glo.
riot's privilege of commending• the spirit to him ho

gave it.
Dr. Andrewes failed to realize my anticipations on this
occasion. His present discourse was informing and discri-
minating, hut it wanted the impres,iveness of eloquenco.
lie appealed to the head, but he never agitated the heart.
There was one part of his discourse, however, which 00.41 it
to be pointed out, and to which praise is most jristf; due.
Adverting to fashionable funeraN, he eneri..st ically remon-
strated against the practice, still so prevalent in high life,
of persons celebrating the obsequies of their relations as it
were by proxy ; so that servants, in this last sad rite, be-
come the substitutes of masters, and funerals are literally
performed. Nothing can be more revolting than thi4
practice. It is insult to the deceased, it is scandal to the
living. Abraham himself buried Sarah ; and the principal
personages of Egypt consentancously accompanied Joseph
to the burial of Jacob. It was over a grave that Jesus

wept.
Humanity is to be acquired at the bed of sickness, and
piety at the interment of the dead. What is the tomb, to
those who can truly ask, agreeably to The order for the
Burial of the Dead,' the speedy accomplishment of " the
number of the elect;" and who feel heartily thankful, at the
same time. that the souls of them they love are " delivered
from the burden of the flesh," and from " the misnies of

this sinful world i"
Of our future knowledge of each other, what may he
termed individual recognition beyond the grave, of this
hope, to which reason aspires and which revelation coun-
tenances, Dr. Andrews did not speak. Scarcely did he
venture on the confines of that state " where the souls of
them that depart hence" .exist " in joy and felicity l" It
was rather trivial in him, after this neglect, to censure
those simple creatures, who, instead of attending to the
solemnities of burial, are drawn thither by admiring the
proud pall, or seen noticing the curious coffin.
Knowing the important impressions often made both on
the heart and mind by the burial of the dead, religiously
celebrated, 1 greatly regret the too frequent neglect of
carrying the corps: into the church ; where the sacredness
of the place, and the portion of divine scripture usually
read, most fitly prepare the mourners for the final solem-
nity of committit2; the bony of the deceased to the
grave. Parsimony is the last feeling that should be con-
I stilted in this particular ; and where poverty really operates
to the exclusion of piety, well would it become the minister
of •relig,rion, remembering to Whom he is responsible, to
dispense, in some shape, with the church fees otherwise to
he expected. Something should be done on this subject.
Difficult it may be, but let us trust that it is not impossible,
to remedy the evil which I have just been describing.
.4 pril 2, 1809. ONgsnics.