[1] Look how easily Jehu stamped Jezebel in pieces, and
Tamerlane's troops of horse the Turkish footmen; or as the
sturdy steed dashes out the little whappet's brains, so
easily does Death, with the least kick and spurn of his
heel, the halest complexion, the stoutest
constitution,--triumphing like an emperor over all sorts of
people; treading on the necks of kings and princes, as
Joshua over them in the cave; insulting in the terms of
Rabshakeh: "Where is Hamath? the kings of Arphad, Ivah, and
Sepharvaim? Elam, Meshech, and Tubal, whose fear was upon
the living, are they not descended into the grave? made
their beds in the slimy valley, and laid their swords under
their heads? Hath wisdom delivered, strength rescued, or
wealth rescued any out my fingers?"--_Ward,_ 1577-1639.
Oh, eloquent, just, and mighty Death! whom none could
advise, thou hast persuaded; what none hath dared, thou
hast done; and whom all the world hath flattered, thou
alone hast cast out of the world and despised. Thou hast
drawn together all the far-stretched greatness, all the
pride, cruelty, and ambition of man, and covered it all
with those two narrow words, _Hic jacet._--_Sir Walter
Raleigh._
[2] We put far away the evil day, and therefore we are not duly
impressed by the thought. But fourscore years and soon cut
off, and we fly away; and how uncertain is our reaching
that lonely verge of life, where the flowery meadows and
the golden corn-fields slope gradually down into the bars
and stony beach that fringes the eternal sea. The coast of
death to most is an abrupt precipice; we are cut off in the
midst of our days.--_Macmillan._
Why should a man defer that which ought to be the
occupation of a life, which ought to command all his powers
in all their vigour--why should a man defer that to the
last few abrupt moments, to his departure from time to
eternity? When a man is going to any distant part of the
globe--say to America--what preparation there is! How much
it is talked about! It is a long, a distant, an eventful
journey. The man talks about it; his friends prepare in
every conceivable way. Oh, what infatuation and stupidity,
what folly it is for a man to make no preparation for this
distant voyage--the voyage to eternity!--_Beaumont._