CHAPTER X.

SEPULCHRAL CAVES.

Cave of Machpelah-Valley of Jehoshaphat-Jewish tombsGrave of Lazarus-Sepulchre of Christ-Opening of the graves -Tombs of the judges-Tombs of the kings-Egypt-Burialplace of Thebes - Belzoni-Mummies - Canary islandsFunereal cave at Teneriffe-Cave at Ataruipe-Views of the Egyptians-Petræa-Sepulchres-Greece-Telmessus-Mountain of tombs-Inscriptions-Regulations at funerals-Paul -Catacombs of Rome-Christian inscriptions-Views of Christianity.

"MAN goeth to his long home;" and, singularly diversified as have been the dwellings of men in life, those to which they have been consigned in death are no less so-the bed of earth in which the peasant reposes beneath the grassy turf-the stately mausoleum of the noble-the rude heap of stones which marks the restingplace of the savage-the vast tumuli inclosing the ashes of ancient kings-the rock-hewn sepulchre, and the natural cave. The first record of the disposal of the dead refers to the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre, the same is Hebron," which became the family

tomb of the patriarchs, and received the remains of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This, we may presume to have been the ancient universal custom of the eastern nations, to select the natural caverns that might be at hand for burial places, usually hollowing niches in the interior walls for the reception of the dead. Where such conveniences did not offer themselves, they were constructed in the sides of rocks and mountains. The "stones of darkness, and the shadow of death," is a phrase in the book of Job, founded upon this usage. The practice obtained among the Jews, and is largely exhibited by existing monuments in the valley of Jehoshaphat, which skirts Jerusalem. There, many of the race even now come from afar to lay their bones by those of their fathers, expecting, according to their interpretations of prophecy, that a day will arrive when the Messiah in that spot will make a visible demonstration of his glory, the dead arise, all nations be judged in the valley, and Israel be avenged.

The great majority of the tombs in the valleys round Jerusalem exhibit the same general mode of construction. A small doorway, usually simple and unadorned, has been

cut in the perpendicular face of the rock, leading to one or more chambers excavated out of it, commonly upon the same level with the door, but sometimes having a deseent of several steps. The walls of the chambers are plainly hewn, and have niches to serve as resting-places for the dead. In some instances, advantage has been taken of a spot where the stone has been quarried for building purposes, in order to obtain a perpendicular face for the door, a square area has been hewn out in a ledge, and tombs excavated in the front and lateral sides. Many of the doors and fronts have been broken away by violence, so as to leave the interior chambers exposed. Most of the sepulchres seem to have been simply secured by large stones or blocks at the doors, easily removed and replaced, upon a fresh tenant being brought to the family grave. It was the general custom to deposit the body in a chamber, or in a niche, without any sort of coffin, but wrapped round with grave-clothes, though, in the case of the noble and wealthy, stone coffins, with seulptured lids, or sarcophagi, were used.

The preceding remarks illustrate several passages in the New Testament. The grave of Lazarus is thus described: "It was a cave,

and a stone lay upon it." In this case, the chambered tomb was below the level of the entrance, descended into by steps, so that the securing block at the mouth might be said to be upon it. "Jesus said, Take ye away the stone;" and at the voice of Omnipotence," the dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes." Joseph of Arimathea laid the body of our Lord," wrapped in a clean linen cloth," "in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock, and rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre." In this case also, the chamber was either below the level, or it had a very contracted entrance, Peter "stooping down" to obtain a view of the interior. The astonishing event coincident with the death of Christ, when the "graves were opened," was the removal of the securing stones from the doors of the sepulchral caves. It was the preparation when this occurred; and as servile labour then ceased, and continued through the ensuing sabbath, the chambers of the dead remained open to the inspection of the living. The reign of death was thus laid bare, but only displayed that, by contrast, the energy of the Prince of life might the more illustriously appear, by re-animating some of the long-slumbering departed, which

took place posterior to his own resurrection, and symbolized its power. The place where the Lord lay, it would be impossible for the Christian mind to regard without intense emotion, could it be identified. But the church of the Holy Sepulchre, assumed to cover the spot, has no valid claims to that distinction. The site is, no doubt, irrecoverably lost, yet the facts, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day, are eternal truths, upon which faith may securely repose in hope of the resurrection to a glorious life.

There are two remarkable exceptions among the ancient sepulchres contiguous to Jerusalem. One called the Tombs of the Judges, at the head of the valley of Jehoshaphat, presents a portico, surmounted with a fine pediment, sculptured with flowers and leaves. From the middle of this portico a door leads into an antichamber, having on one side two rows of deep narrow crypts, each just large enough to receive a corpse, the side, as Sandys says, being "cut full of holes in the manner of a dove-house." On the two other sides of this room, small doors lead to apartments similarly furnished with