To die a natural Death, to be lamented and bury’d, and to lye in the Sepulchre of their Fathers, was ever accounted a great Honour and Happiness among the antient _Jews_, for which the Scripture-Phrase, throughout the Old Testament, is _Sleeping_, which implies lying at Rest and undisturb’d as well as Dying. Thus, in 2 _Kings_ 8. 24. it is said, _And Joram slept with his Fathers, and was bury’d with his Fathers in the City of David_. And 9. 28. _His Servants carry’d Ahaziah in a Chariot to Jerusalem, and bury’d him in a Sepulchre with his Fathers in the City of David._ And _Cap._ 15. _ver._ 7. _So Azariah slept with his Fathers_, &c. Also, _ver._ 22. and 28. of the same Chapter, and in many other places, as 1 _Kings_ 2. 10. _So David slept with his Fathers, and was bury’d in the City of David._ By all this it is to be observ’d, that in this City was the usual Royal Burying-Place, where both _David_ and all his Successors, that were of any Note or Renown, were bury’d. This appears likewise by 1 _Kings_ 11. 43. 2 _Chron._ 12. 16. and 14. 1. and 16. 14. and 21. 1. _David_’s Sepulchre was made of such durable Materials, and so well kept and repair’d by his Posterity, that it continu’d ’till the Apostles Time (_Acts_ 2. 22.) which was the space of almost 2000 Years. [Sidenote: Of which Deprivation is a Curse.] On the contrary, to die an unnatural Death, and in another Country, as also to be depriv’d of the Sepulchre of ones Fathers or Ancestors, was always esteem’d a note of Infamy and a kind of Curse. Thus, in 1 _Kings_ 13. 22. the seduc’d Prophet, because he disobey’d the Word of the Lord, was reprov’d by him who was the occasion of his Error, as he had it in Command from GOD, and withal told, _That his Carcass should not come into the Sepulchre of his Fathers_. _Isaiah_ speaking in derision of the Death and Sepulture of the King of _Babylon_, which was not with his Fathers, in that his Tyranny was so much abhorr’d, thus notes his Unhappiness, _Chap._ 14. 19, 20. _Thou art cast out of thy Grave, like an abominable Branch; and as the Raiment of those that are slain, thrust thro’ with a Sword; and shall go down to the Stones of the Pit, as a Carcass trodden under Foot. Thou shalt not be join’d with thy Fathers in Burial._ That is, he should want all the Honours of Sepulture, and all such Funeral Rites as were to have been paid to him as a most potent King, and that he should not be admitted to lye in the Grave amongst his Ancestors, but that his Corps should remain neglected above Ground unbury’d, and be trodden to pieces like vile Carrion. [Sidenote: And the Judgment of GOD.]