MEDITATIONS AMONG THE TOMB S. In a LETTER to a LA D Y. MADAM, T RAVELLING lately into Cornwall, I happened to alight at a confiderable Village in that County: Where finding myself under an unexpected Neceffity of ftaying a little, I took a walk to the Church*. The Doors, like the Heaven to which they lead, were wide open; and readily admitted an * I had named, in fome former Editions, a particular Church, viz. KILKHAMPTON; where feveral of VOL. I. B the an unworthy Stranger. Pleafed with the Opportunity, I refolved to spend a few Minutes under the facred Roof. IN a Situation fo retired and awful, I could not avoid falling into a Train of Meditations, fericus and mournfully pleafing. Which, I trust, were in fome Degree profitable to me, while they poffeffed and warmed my Thoughts; and, if they may adminifter Satisfaction to you, Madam, now they are recollected, and committed to Writing, I fhall receive a fresh Pleafure from them. any It was an ancient Pile; reared by Hands, that, Ages ago, were mouldered into Duft.Situate in the Centre of a large Burial-Ground ; remote from all the Noife and Hurry of tumultuous Life. The Body fpacious; the Structure lofty; the Whole magnificently plain. A Row of regular Pillars extended themselves through the Midft; fupporting the Roof with Simplicity, and with Dignity.-The Light, that the Monuments, defcribed in the following Pages, really exift. But as I thought it convenient to mention fome Cafes here, which are not, according to the best of my Remembrance, referred to in any Inferiptions there; I have now omitted the Name: That Imagination might operate more freely, and the Improvement of the Reader be confuited, without any Thing that fhould look like a Variation from Truth and Fact. that paffed through the Windows, feemed to fhed a kind of luminous Obfcurity; which gave every Object a grave and venerable Air.—The deep Silence, added to the gloomy Afpect, and both heightened by the Loneliness ofthe Place, greatly increased the Solemnity of the Scene. -A fort of religious Dread ftole infenfibly on my Mind while I advanced, all penfive and thoughtful, along the inmoft Ife. Such a Dread, as hufhed every ruder Paffion, and diffipated all the gay Images of an alluring World. HAVING adored that Eternal Majefty, who far from being confined to temples made with Hands, has Heaven for his Throne, and the Earth for his Footstool-I took particular Notice of a handsome Altar-Piece; prefented, as I was afterwards informed, by the MafterBuilders of Stow*; out of Gratitude, I prefume, to that gracious Gon, who carried them through their Work, and enabled them to "bring forth their Top-ftone with Joy." * The Name of a grand Seat, belonging to the late Earl of Bath; remarkable formerly for its excellent Workmanship, and elegant Furniture; once the principal Refort of the Quality and Gentry of the Weft; but now demolished, laid even with the Ground, and fcarce one Stone left upon another. So that Corn may grow, or Nettles fpring, where Stow lately stood. O! HOW amiable is Gratitude! especially when it has the fupreme Benefactor for its Object. I have always looked upon Gratitude, as the most exalted Principle that can actuate the Heart of Man. It has fomething noble, difinterested, and (if I may be allowed the Term) generously devout. Repentance indicates our Nature fallen, and Prayer turns chiefly upon a Regard to one's felf. But, the Exercises of Gratitude fubfifted in Paradife, when there was no Fault to deplore; and will be perpetuated in Heaven, when "Go Dfhall be All in All." แ The Language of this fweet Temper is, "I am unfpeakably obliged: What Return fhall I make?"-And, furely it is no improper Expreffion of an unfeigned Thankfulnefs, to decorate our Creator's Courts, and beautify "the Place where his Honour dwell"eth." Of old, the Habitation of his Feet was glorious: Let it not, now, be fordid or contemptible. It muft grieve an ingenuous Mind, and be a Reproach to any People, to have their own Houfes wainscoted with Cedar, and painted with Vermilion; while the Temple of the Lord of Hofts is deftitute of every decent Ornament. HERE I recollected, and was charmed with, Solomon's fine Address to the Almighty, at the Dedication of his famous Temple..With in mense, menfe Charge, and exquifite Skill, he had erected the moft rich and finifhed Structure, that the Sun ever faw. Yet upon a review of his Work, and a Reflection on the tranfcendent Perfections of the Godhead, how he exalts the one, and abafes the other!-The Building was too glorious, for the mightieft Monarch to inhabit; too facred, for unhallowed Feet even to enter; yet infinitely too mean, for the Deity to refide in. It was, and the Royal Worshipper acknowledged it to be, a moft marvellous Vouchfafement in uncreated Excellency, "to put his Name there."-The whole Paffage breathes fuch a Delicacy, and is animated with fuch a Sublimity of Sentiment, that I cannot perfuade myself to pass on, without repeating it. But will GOD indeed dwell on Earth? Behold! The Heaven, * and 1 Kings viii. 27. But will-A fine abrupt Beginning, moft fignificantly defcribing the Amazement and Rapture of the royal Prophet's Mind! God: He ufes no Epithet, where Writers of inferior Difcernment would have been fond to multiply them: But fpeaks of the Deity, as an incomprehenfible Being, whofe Perfections and Glories are exalted above all Praife.Dwell: To beftow on finful Creatures a propitious Look, to favour them with a tranfient Vifit of Kindnefs, even this were an unutterable Obligation. Will he then vouchsafe to fix his Abode among them, and B 3 take |