ask, Where then shall the wicked infinite majesty, and with an holy inand ungodly appear? May not the dignation which will pierce every Judge be deceived? In such a vast heart. This sentence is just, final, and crowd of important business, may not irreversible; and will be pronounced some things escape his notice? Amidst with an authority which neither can be the amazing multitude, which no finite disputed, nor disobeyed. From this power can number, may not some indi-sentence there can be no appeal. Evevidual pass unnoticed? The omni-ry mouth shall be stopped. His enescience of the Judge renders these things mies shall go away into everlasting puimpossible, and scarcely leaves room for nishment. Thus, supposition itself. Might not then a single person or two creep over to his right hand? Indeed they dare not! A single glance of his eye would strike terror to their hearts! The "There will also be the terror of the execution. The sentence will be executed without the least delay. The enemies of the Judge, without exception, shall be turned into hell. sufferings of the damned there, joining the severity and duration together, is the precise amount of the terror of the Lord; but who can tell or reckon up that amount! We can only have very faint conceptions of devouring flames and everlasting burnings. "Shall all be there that day? Yes, all who ever were, are, or shall be-all, from the highest to the lowest. The haughty monarch, who in this world was screened by the pitiful maxim, 'The king can do no evil, and is not accountable,' will find such language of no avail at that tribunal! There he "All the miseries of this life bear no must account for the lives and property proportion, and scarcely have the least of those over whom he reigned, and semblance to the torments of hell. The thousands slain at his instance will godly have the greatest share of trials stand as ready proof against him, curs- here: but they are all mixed with ing the day when, to gratify his ambi-mercy. Hell is pure, unmixed wrath. tion, they sported with death, and were hurried to the dread tribunal. Cut off even in the blossom of their sin, Then every motive for beginning and "There is the terror of the sentence. The judgment being finished, sentence will be pronounced against all his enemies-a sentence replete with terror: 'Then shall he say unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.' Here every word is emphatic, important, and decisive; and will be pronounced with Sinners who suffer most in this world, are only sprinkled with a few drops of Divine wrath; but in hell the waves roll over them. Here they only take, as it were, a small sip of the cup of wrath; there they drink the bitter dregs. To assist us in our conceptions of Divine wrath, we should carefully consider how terrible it was to Christ. Falling upon him, it made him sweat great drops of blood, and cry out in extreme agony, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? If it was so in the green tree, what will it be in fuel dried, and already attracting the flames of wrath! "Attempting to describe the terror of the Lord as inflicted in the other world, the heart fails, and the mind sinks under the awful and arduous task! One thing is certain: these torments never abate, nor come to an end; and the longest use and habit never make them in the least degree more tolerabic. Awful eternity! But the mind recoils.-May a gracious God grant that we may never go to the place of punishment, where these terrors are felt, and known in their utmost ex tent!!!" (To be concluded in our next.) 509 An account of the Funeral Ceremo- any writer which I have met with, nies of a Burman Priest, com- I take the liberty to communicate municated to the Society institu- to the Asiatic Society the followted in Bengal, for inquiring ing account of the funeral cereinto the history and antiquities monies of a Pongee or Burman of the arts, sciences, and lite- priest, as communicated by my rature, of Asia. By WILLIAM son, Mr. Felix Carey, who reCAREY, Ď. D. sides at Rangoon, and was an eyewitness thereto. THE manner in which different "The man whose funeral nations dispose of their dead is ceremonies I am going to deone of those circumstances which scribe died about two years ago. have been thought worthy of pe- After the death of a Pongee, the culiar notice by all who have body is embalmed in the followstudied the history of man, as it ing manner: First, the intestines is in most instances connected are taken out; after which the with the idea which they enter- body is filled with spices of differtain respecting a future state. ent kinds, and the opening sewed Those nations, who believe in up. A layer of wax is then laid the doctrine of the resurrection, all over the body, so as to prepractise inhumation. The Hin-vent the admission of air; upon doos and other nations, who be- that is put a layer composed of lieve the doctrine of the metemp- lac and some other ingredients, sychosis, and consider fire as the and the whole covered over with element which purifies all things, leaf-gold. The body of this perusually burn their dead, with a son was stretched out at full variety of ceremonies suited to length, with the arms laid over those religious notions which are the breast. When one of these peculiar to the different sects. people dies, the body is thus preThe inhabitants of Thibet, differ-pared at the house where he died. ing from most other nations, either After about twelve months the totally neglect the bodies of their corpse is removed to a house dead, or treat them in a manner built for that purpose, where it is which to us appears highly bar-kept a year or two longer, till the Pongees order it to be burnt. barous. The Burmans burn their dead At one of these places I saw the fike the Hindoos, though with a body of this man, about a month great difference in the method before it was taken out for the and the attendant ceremonies. purpose of being destroyed. It With them, the wood of the coffin was then placed upon a stage, (which is made larger and strong-which was in a house made like er than with us) is nearly all the one of their Kuims,* rising in a fuel used to consume the bodies of the common people. The priests, or Poongees, are, like them, burnt by the wood of their own coffins; but the fire is communicated by means of rockets. As this is a very singular prac-discipline not very different from that of tice, and has not been noticed by monastery. * This is the name of the buildings occupied by the Burman priests, who live in societies subject to the chief of the Kuim, who is distinguished by his age or learning. The Kuims are a sort of colleges, where instruction is given to any one who wishes for it; but the members are subject to a conical form, and about thirty | were drawn in procession, one feet in height. The stage was after another, in the following made of bamboos and wood, and order: First, six or eight flags the house which contained it was were carried; these were folcovered with paper, and overlaid lowed by a number of dancing with leaf-gold. By the side of boys and girls; then the carthis stage lay the coffin in which riages with the figures, some the body was to be carried out; drawn by boys, and others by this also was overlaid with gold, bullocks, followed; and after and ornamented with several them went a number of young figures, designed to represent women, dancing and singing, with death in a variety of forms. In an older woman between each the court-yard two large four-row, to keep them in order. wheeled carriages were prepar- Women were never known to ing, one to carry the coffin, and attend such processions before, the other the stage with its appa- but this was done in consequence ratus. The carriage in which of a particular order from the the corpse was to be drawn had viceroy. On this occasion even ture. another stage built upon it, simi- the wives and daughters of the lar to the one in the house, only principal officers of government it was larger, and fixed upon an were obliged to dance, some with elephant, made in a kneeling pos- umbrellas held over them, and others under an awning large When the time for the ceremo-enough to shade forty or fifty ny approached, the principal persons, and supported by six or people of every street were com- eight men ; last of all followed the manded each to prepare a rocket, men in like manner, singing, clapand an image (the shape of some ping their hands, and dancing, animal,) to which the rocket was with two men between each row to be fixed. Besides these large to keep them in order. rockets, a great number of smaller The people of each street atones were also prepared, as well tended their own carriages, and as other fireworks. The Burman in this manner proceeded round new year began either on the the town, one company after an13th or 14th of April (I do not other. The figures were very exactly remember which,) when large, much larger than the anithe festival celebrated by sprink-mals they were intended to repreling of water commenced, which sent. Some of them were reprewould have continued six or sentations of buffaloes, others of seven days, had not the viceroy bulls, lions, bears, elephants, put a stop to it, to admit of the horses, or men. There were burning of this Telapoy. On the not less than thirty, of a very 17th, the figures to which the large size, about thirty feet in rockets were to be fastened were height, and a great number of drawn in procession round the smaller ones. town; and from this day to the The next day was spent in end of the ceremony, all the drawing the body of the Pongee people of the town and its vicini-in his carriage, backwards and ty, both male and female, were forwards, or rather in pulling compelled to assist. The figures against each other. All the peo party which had been victorious before won again, and broke the cables of the other. The unsuccessful party was not yet satisfied, ple, being divided into two par-between the two parties who had ties, drew the corpse, from the pulled the former day, the party place where it formerly was, to which had been unsuccessful, inan extensive valley, near the sisting that the cables had been bill where it was to be burnt. cut, and not broken, by the opIn the front of the valley the posite party; they therefore previceroy had a temporary house sented a petition to the viceroy, erected, from which he could requesting that they might have view the whole show. Four ca- another trial at pulling. This bles were fastened to the axle- was granted; upon which, having tree of the carriage, two each procured four new European way; these were held by the cables from the ships in the harpeople,, who every now and then bour, they recommenced their uttered a loud shout, and pulled trial of strength; however, the both ways at the same time. That day neither party gained any advantage over the other, till near evening, when one of the cables broke, and the opposite party but insisted on another trial of gained the victory. strength the following day. That The following day they dis-day neither party obtained the charged the large rockets. Early victory, upon which the viceroy in the morning they carried all issued an order to stop the conthe figures and their rockets from test, and to burn the Telapoy the the town, and each of these next day, which was accordingly figures was fixed upon a carriage done. of four wheels, and the rockets That day the corpse was burnt were secured, by rattan loops, to in a temporary house, erected strong ropes, which passed be- for that purpose, in the shape of tween the feet of the animal, so a Kuim, with a stage in it upon that, when discharged, they, which the coffin was set to be sliding on the ropes, ran along burnt. This was performed with the ground. Some of these rockets small rockets, fixed upon ropes were from seven to eight feet in with rings of rattan, so as to slide length, and from three to four in along them, from the top of a bill, circumference, made of strong to the coffin, which was placed on timber, and secured by iron the top of another hill. The hoops, and rattan lashings. The rockets, being discharged, slided last of them, when discharged, along the ropes, over the interran over a boy of ten or twelve mediate valley, to the coffin, years old, who died in a few which was set on fire by them, minutes; three or four grown-up and, with its contents, quickly persons were also much hurt. consumed." Towards evening a great number of fireworks were discharged, which made a very fine appear ance. The next day was the time appointed for blowing up the corpse. On this occasion, a quarrel arose PRACTICAL CONTEMPLATIONS. True and empty Desires. MANY, while hearing that the desire of grace is grace, conclude they have grace, because they fore dare not go. But, this is as have desires. But it is to be if a patient should say, I am sick, feared that the desire of many is very sick, and therefore dare not like that of the sluggard, of whom apply to the physician: whereas it is said, The desire of the sloth-the whole need not a physician, ful killeth him: for his hands re- but those that are sick. Art thou fuse to labour. Prov. xxi. 25. ungodly and rebellious? ConsiThey content themselves with der, Christ died for the ungodly, desires, but put forth no endea-Rom. v. 6. And he received vours; they think their hearts gifts for men, yea, for the rebelright, though their hands be idle;lious also, that the Lord God might and this slays them: For, as the dwell among them. Psalm lxviii. soul of the sluggard desireth and 18. Art thou an infamous and scanhath nothing, Prov. xiii. 4. so it is dalous sinner? Such were the a sign there is no grace, where publicans and harlots, who found there is nothing but bare desires. mercy. Such was Manasseh, one, True desires of grace are knowing who, by idolatry, enchantments, desires; they spring from the and shedding innocent blood, knowledge of the worth, and the wrought much wickedness in the need of grace :-They are rest-sight of the Lord: yet he humless desires, which cannot be sabled himself, and prayed, and the tisfied in the want of grace :Lord was entreated of him, and They are extensive desires; for heard his supplication. 2 Chron. it is not small measures or degrees xxxiii. 12, 13. Such, before conof it, that will serve :-They are version, were some of the Corinlaborious desires, taking pains and thians likewise. 1 Cor. vi. 9, &c. using the means for the obtaining Be not deceived, neither fornicaof grace. It is said, through desire tors, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, a man having separated himself, nor effeminate, nor abusers of them seeketh and intermeddleth with all selves with mankind, nor theives, wisdom. Prov. xviii. 1. Aman who nor covetous, nor extortioners, shall hath a desire after wisdom, sepa-inherit the kingdom of God. And rates himself from what may ob- such were some of you, but ye are struct or hinder him therein; and washed, but ye are sanctified, but he intermeddleth with all wisdom, ye are justified, in the name of the i. e. he applies himself to all the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of means likely to procure it. Take our God. Hast thou not only neheed, therefore, that you neither glected, but rejected; not only perish for want of desires after despised and turned thy back grace, nor miscarry for want of upon, but even opened thy mouth joining endeavours with desires. Sin should be no hinderance from coming to Christ. Many make that an objection to keep them from Christ, which ought to be a motive to hasten them to him. They say they are sinners-great sinners, and there against the ways of God? Yet see how wisdom invites scorners to accept of grace. Prov. i. 22, 23. Hast thou nothing but sin and unrighteousness, and yet hast stubbornly gone on, and been stout against God, neither fearing his threatenings, nor regarding his judgments? Yet, hear what he saith. Isai. xlvi. 12. Hearken unto |