LXXV. But to leave this, there is a duty which the Church doth owe to the faithful departed, wherein forasmuch as the church of England is said1 to do those things which are though “not unlawful” yet “inconvenient,” because it appointeth a prescript form of service at burials, suffereth mourning apparel to be worn, and permitteth funeral sermons2, a word or two concerning this point will be necessary, although it be needless to dwell long upon it.
The end of funeral duties is first to shew that love towards the party deceased which nature requireth; then to do him that honour which is fit both generally for man and particularly for the quality of his person; last of all to testify the care which the Church hath to comfort the living, and the hope which we all have concerning the resurrection of the dead.
For signification of love towards them that are departed mourning is not denied to be a thing convenient. As in truth the Scripture every where doth approve lamentation made unto this end. The Jews by our Saviour’s tears therefore, gathered in this case that his love towards Lazarus was great3. And that as mourning at such times is fit, so likewise that there may be a kind of attire suitable to a sorrowful affection and convenient for mourners to wear, how plainly doth David’s4 example show, who being in heaviness went up to the mount with his head covered and all the people that were with him in like sort? White garments being fit to use at marriage feasts and such other times of joy, whereunto Salomon alluding when he requireth continual cheerfulness of mind speaketh in this sort5, “Let thy garments be always white;” what doth hinder the contrary from being now as convenient in grief as this heretofore in gladness hath been? “If there be no sorrow” they say “it is hypocritical to pretend it, and if there be to provoke it” by wearing such attire “is dangerous6.” Nay if there be, to show it is natural, and if there be not, yet the signs are meet to show what should be, especially sith it doth not come oftentimes to pass that men are fain to have their mourning gowns pulled off their backs for fear of killing themselves with sorrow that way nourished7.
The honour generally due unto all men maketh a decent interring of them to be convenient even for very humanity’s sake. And therefore so much as is mentioned in the burial of the widow’s son8, the carrying of him forth upon a bier and the accompanying of him to the earth, hath been used even amongst infidels, all men accounting it a very extreme destitution9 not to have at the least this honour done them. Some man’s estate may require a great deal more according as the fashion of the country where he dieth doth afford. And unto this appertained the ancient use of the Jews to embalm the corpse with sweet odours10, and to adorn the sepulchres of certain11.
In regard of the quality of men it hath been judged fit to commend them unto the world at their death, amongst the heathen in funeral orations, amongst the Jews in sacred poems12; and why not in funeral sermons also amongst Christians13? Us it sufficeth that the known benefit hereof doth countervail millions of such inconveniences as are therein surmised14, although they were not surmised only but found therein. The life and the death of saints is precious in God’s sight. Let it not seem odious in our eyes if both the one and the other be spoken of then especially, when the present occasion doth make men’s minds the more capable of such speech. The care no doubt of the living both to live and to die well must needs be somewhat increased, when they know that their departure shall not be folded up in silence but the ears of many be made acquainted with it. Besides when they hear how mercifully God hath dealt with their brethren in their last need, besides the praise which they give to God and the joy which they have or should have by reason of their fellowship and communion with saints, is not their hope also much confirmed against the day of their own dissolution? Again the sound of these things doth not so pass the ears of them that are most loose and dissolute in life but it causeth them one time or other to wish, “O that I might die the death of the righteous and that my end might be like his!” Thus much peculiar good there doth grow at those times by speech concerning the dead, besides the benefit of public instruction common unto funeral with other sermons.