Many have taken voluminous pains to determine the state of the soul upon disunion; but men have been most phantastical in the singular contrivances of their corporall dissolution: whilest the soberest Nations have rested in two wayes, of simple inhumation and burning. That carnal interrment or burying, was of the elder date, the old examples of _Abraham_ and the Patriarches are sufficient to illustrate; And were without competition, if it could be made out, that _Adam_ was buried near _Damascus_, or Mount _Calvary_, according to some Tradition. God himself that buried but one, was pleased to make choice of this way, collectible from Scripture-expression, and the hot contest between Satan and the Arch-Angel, about discovering the body of _Moses_. But the practice of Burning was also of great Antiquity, and of no slender extent. For (not to derive the same from _Hercules_) noble descriptions there are hereof in the Grecian Funerale of _Homer_, in the formal Obsequies of _Patroclus_, and _Achilles_; and somewhat elder in the _Theban_ war, and solemn combustion of _Meneceus_, and _Archemorus_, contemporary unto _Jair_ the Eighth Judge of _Israel_. Confirmable also among the _Trojans_, from the Funeral Pyre of _Hector_, burnt before the gates of _Troy_, and the burning[2] of _Penthisilea_ the _Amazonian Queen_: and long continuance of that practice in the inward Countries of _Asia_; while as low as the Reign of _Julian_, we finde that the King of _Chionia_[3] burnt the body of his Son, and interred the ashes in a silver Urne. [2] _Q. Calaber lib._ 1. [3] _Ammianus Marcellinus, Gumbrates King of_ Chionia _a Countrey near_ Persia. The same practice extended also far West,[4] and besides _Herulians_, _Getes_, and _Thracians_, was in use with most of the _Celtæ_, _Sarmatians_, _Germans_, _Gauls_, _Danes_, _Swedes_, _Norwegians_; not to omit some use thereof among _Carthaginians_ and _Americans_: Of greater antiquity among the _Romans_ then most opinion, or _Pliny_ seems to allow. For (beside the old Table Laws of burning[5] or burying within the City, of making the Funeral fire with plained wood, or quenching the fire with wine) _Manlius_ the Consul burnt the body of his son: _Numa_ by special clause of his will, was not burnt but buried; And _Remus_ was solemnly buried, according to the description of _Ovid_.[6] [4] _Arnoldis Montanis not in_ Cæs. _Commentar. L. L. Gyraldus. Kirkmannus._ [5] _12 Tabul. part. 1 de jure sacro. Hominem mortuum in urbe ne sepelito, neve urito. tom. 2. Rogum asciâ ne polito. to. 4 Item vigeneri Annottat in Livium, et Alex. ab Alex. cum Tiraquello Roscinus cum dempstero._ [6] _Ultima prolato subditu flamma rogo. De Fast. lib. 4. cum Car. Neapol. anaptyxi._