Reflections in a Churchyard. It is too commonly found, that a familiarity with death, and a frequent recurrence of funerals, graves, and churchyards, serves to harden rather than humanize the mind; and to deaden rather than arouse those becoming reflections, which such objects seem excellently calculated to produce. Hence the physician enters, without the least emotion, the gloomy chambers of expiring life; the undertaker handles, without concern, the clay-cold limbs; and the sexton whistles unappalled, while his spade casts forth from the earth the mangled bones and dust of his fellowcreatures *. And alas! how often have I felt with indignant reluctance my wandering heart engaged in other speculations, when called to minister at the grave, and to consign to the tomb the ashes of my fellow creatures. Yet nothing teaches like death; and though perhaps the business of life would grow torpid, and the strings of activity be loosed, were men continually hanging over the meditation-yet, assuredly, no man should fail to keep the great object in view: and seasonably to reflect that the * See SHAKSPEARE's Grave-diggers in HAMLET. Reflections in a Churchyard. important moment is coming, when he too must mingle with his kindred clay; when he too must appear before God's awful judgment seat; when he too must be adjudged by a fixed, an irrevocable, and eternal decree. As I entered the churchyard, Where heaves the turf in many a mould'ring heap: so many of my friends, my neighbours, my fellow-creatures, lie mouldering in dust ;-struck with the slow and solemn sound of the deep-toned bell, and particularly impressed with the afflicting circumstances of his death, whose obsequies I was waiting to perform; I found the involuntary tear rush from mine eyes, and the unbidden sigh heave in my labouring bosom.. And, "Oh Death, mighty conqueror!" I could not forbear saying in the silence of unaffected meditation- "Oh Death, how terrible, how wonderful thou art! Here I stand full of life; health smiling on my cheek, and sparkling in my eyes; my active feet ready to bear me briskly along, and my hands prompt to execute their appointed offices: scenes of pleasing felicity are before me; the comforts of domestic se Reflections in a Churchyard. renity dwell seemingly secure around me; and my busy soul is planning future improvements of happiness and peace.But the moment is coming, perhaps is near, when life's feeble pulse shall play no longer, these eyes no more sparkle, nor this cheek glow with health, that pale as the shroud which invests me, and those close with the lids, to unclose and awaken no more; the feet shall decline their function, and the useless hands fall heavily down by my side. Farewell then all the engaging, endearing scenes before me: farewell the comforts of domestic peace: my best loved friends shall weep tenderly over me; and my thinking, restless, busy soul at length find repose, and be anxious no more. "It is fixed! and all the powers of earth can neither arrest nor divert the sure, unerring dart! but with consummate wisdom the great Lord of the World hath wrapped up the important moment in impenetrable darkness from human view; that from the cradle we might have the solemn object before us, and act as men, because as men we must die. "Let me then not labour to divert the improving speculation, but advance still nearer, and see if I can learn what it is to die! Reflections in a Churchyard. To die! O you, my friends, amid whose graves I now am wandering-you, who ere long, like me, trod this region of mortality, and drank the golden day-with you the bitterness of death is past you have tasted what that is, which so much perplexes the human thought, of which we all know so little, and yet of which we all must know so much! Oh could you inform me what it is to die, could you tell me what it is to breathe the last sad gasp-what are the sensations of the last convulsion, of the last pangs of dissolving nature! Oh could you tell me how the soul issues from the lifeless dwelling which it has so long inhabited; what unknown worlds are discovered to its view; how it is affected with the alarming prospect; how it is affected with the remembrance and regard of things left here below!—Oh could you tell me—but alas, how vain the wish!-clouds and darkness rest upon it: and nothing but experience must be allowed to satisfy these anxious researches of mortals." Yet let us not forbear these researches; or at least not relinquish the interesting meditation. For what can be of equal importance to man, destined inevitably to tread the path of Death ?— Reflections in a Churchyard. what of equal importance to examine, as whither that path leads, and how it may be trod successfully?what of equal importance for a pilgrim of a day to contemplate, as that great event which must open to him a state unalterable, and without end? 3 All men must tread that gloomy path-It is appointed for all men once to die. Adam's curse is upon all his posterity. Dust they are, and to dust they must return-But whither leads that gloomy path!-Alas, in the heathen world with a bewildered mind they sought the resolution of that question-Death was dreadful indeed in such circumstances: for if we want the glad hope of immortality to cheer our departing souls, what affliction can even be conceived more afflicting than death and dissolution, separation from all we hold dear on earth, and perfect annihilation of all future expectances! Life and immortality are brought to light by the Gospel; and the question is answered clearly from that book, whence alone we can gain information on this point-Once to die, and after that be judged-We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ! Oh my soul, how awful a |