screams, yet regulated by the beating of tambourines, now swelling upon the ear, now expiring in cadences, was repeated continually; and as often as it seemed to cease, we heard it renewed with increased vehemence. It was the usual ceremony of bewailing a deceased person by means of female mourners hired for the occasion; they exhibited the most frightful distortions: having their hair loose, their clothes torn, and their countenances daubed with paint and dirt: they were relieved at intervals by others."* This seems very foolish. Yes, and very sinful too; to affect a sorrow which they do not feel, and merely for a little paltry gain, is sad hypocrisy. When we lose a friend, we cannot but mourn; yet it is our duty to be resigned to the will of God. It is said in the Scriptures, that the Egyptians * Clarke's travels, vol. iii. p. 72. mourned for Jacob threescore and ten days. His funeral is described in very remarkable terms. The sacred historian informs us, that when Joseph went up to the land of Canaan to bury his father, there went with him "all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt: and all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house; and both chariots and horsemen, a very great company. And they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation; and he made a mourning for his father seven days," Gen. L. 7-10. When Sir John Chardin was at Ispahan, in 1676, the mistress of the adjoining house died. "The instant she expired," he says, "about thirty persons set up such a lamentation as quite alarmed him: and they repeated these wailings, at intervals, for forty days. In like manner, many of the Jews came to mourn with Mary and Martha after the loss of their brother; they followed Mary to the grave, supposing that she was going to weep there." On these occasions, there were often very unjustifiable practices. The people cut themselves, and tore off their hair. This was forbidden by the law, Deut. xiv. 1. refers to this, chap xvi. 6. The Prophet Jeremiah When the Israelites were smitten at Ai, it is said, that "Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the Ark of the Lord, until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads." must have been very unpleasant, father. This Truly so, Harry: but it was very expressive of their humiliation before God, and of the greatness of their affliction. It was by no means uncommon among the people in the east. When Job's friends approached him, "they lifted up their voice and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust on their heads towards Heaven." So the king of Nineveh, when the prophet announced the destruction of that city, arose from his throne, and laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. Did the Romans or the Greeks express their grief in this manner? Yes, both these nations did so. Virgil, speaking of Latinus, says, "He tears his garments as he goes, Homer also, when speaking of Achilles bewail ing the loss of Patroclus, says, "Cast on the ground, with furious hands he spread The scorching ashes o'er his graceful head; His purple garments, and his golden hairs, Those he deforms with dust, and these he tears." Thus also the same Poet represents Priam bewailing the loss of his son Hector: "with frantic hands he spread A show'r of ashes o'er his neck and head." Many other instances might be selected of the same nature. Yet Christians, to whom God has given his gracious promises of mercy, ought not to mourn thus immoderately, and as the heathen; they should rather, when in trouble, say with Eli, "It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good!" Or, in the language of that beautiful and comprehensive prayer which our Lord taught his disciples, "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven!" MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS. 1 KINGS. II. 9. You know, Harry, I have often remarked that passages of Scripture, which at first sight |