Creative Books

Prayer was absolutely forbidden at funerals, as was done also by Calvin
at Geneva, by John Knox in Scotland, by the English Puritans in the
Westminster Assembly, and by the French Huguenots. The bell might ring,
the friends might walk, two and two, to the grave; but there must be no
prayer uttered. The secret was, that the traditions of the English and
Romish Churches must be avoided at all sacrifices. "Doctor," said King
James to a Puritan divine, "do you go barefoot because the Papists wear
shoes and stockings?" Even the origin of the frequent New-England habit
of eating salt fish on Saturday is supposed to have been the fact that
Roman Catholics eat it on Friday.
But if there were no prayers said on these occasions, there were
sermons. Mr. John Calf, of Newbury, described one specimen of funeral
sermon in immortal verse:--
"On Sabbath day he went his way,
As he was used to do,
God's house unto, that they might know
What he had for to show;
God's holy will he must fulfil,
For it was his desire
For to declare a sermon rare
Concerning Madam Fryer.


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