We find in the first Age of the World, says _Cambden_, the Care of Burial was so great, that Fathers laid a strict Charge on their Children, concerning translating their Bodies to their Graves, every one being desirous to return in _Sepulchra Majorum_, into the Sepulchres of his Ancestors. Thus those Holy Patriarchs, _Abraham_, _Isaac_, _Jacob_, _Joseph_ and the rest, did not only lay the heaviest Commands about their being bury’d, but also about transferring their Bodies to such Places as they nam’d: So _Jacob_, at his Death, charg’d his Son _Joseph_ to carry his Body into the Sepulchre of his Fathers, _Gen._ 47. 30. and 49. 29. And _Joseph_ commanded his Brethren they should remember and tell their Posterity, that when they went away into the Land of Promise, they should carry his Bones along with them, _Gen._ 50. 25. Now this Filial Care was not only their last and greatest Duty to their Parents, [Sidenote: _Burial_ a Work acceptable to GOD.] but also a Work well pleasing and acceptable to GOD; an Example whereof we have in _Tobit_, who being blind, GOD sent his Angel _Raphael_ to cure him, as a Reward for his pious Care in burying those who had been slain by King _Sennacherib_ in his wrath, and cast without the Walls of _Nineveh_: But altho’ the King’s Servants forceably took away his Goods, and sought to put him to Death; yet when he heard one more had been strangl’d, and cast out into the Market-Place, he was so zealous in his Care, that tho’ he was just set down to Meat, he tasted not of it, ’till he had fetch’d him up into a private Room, and when the Sun was set, he ventur’d to make a Grave and bury him. [Sidenote: To our Saviour.] Likewise our Saviour (being to rise again the Third Day) commended that good Work of those Religious Women, who pour’d pretious Ointments, with sweet Odours, on his Head and Body, which they did in order to his Burial. Moreover, the Gospel has crown’d those with immortal Praise that took down Christ’s Body from the Cross, and gave it honest and honourable Burial. This signifies, says St. _Austin_, that the Providence of GOD extends even to the Bodies of the Dead (for he is pleas’d with such good Works) and builds up a Belief of the Resurrection, by which, says he, we may learn this profitable Lesson, _viz._ How great the Reward of Alms done to the Living must be, since this Duty and Kindness shown even to the Dead is not forgotten of GOD. _Burial of the Dead_ was accounted by the Antients a Work of _Piety_ and _Religion_, because they esteem’d it both an Act of _Justice_ and _Mercy_: [Sidenote: An Act of Justice.]