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III. Is us'd in Funerals. (o) Eucherius Lugdu∣nensis tells us, 'Twas an ancient custom to anoint Bodies to be buried, and to interr them with perfumes. And this the Jews (as Casaubon (p) observes) deriv'd from the Egyptians. Some think this Solemnity atten∣ded with exenteration, or embowelling for keeping;
But although this was customary in Egyptian Pollin∣ctures; yet have we not ground to conclude the Jews their Scholars in the practice; the Septuagint, skill'd in the Jewish customs, using for anointing (not so much 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which meerly does im∣port an unction: so that, amongst the Jews, the un∣guents seem not so much intended for the conserva∣tion of the dead, as to intimate the kind regards of the living; to which, in all probability, our Saviour refers, in saying, She has beforehand anointed my body to the burial (q).
But what's this to a good Name? What was this practice, but a fond employment, to deck the Body up in gaudy garments, when 'twas to take a journy in the dark; to go hence and be no more seen. They seem'd to take great care, lest they should prove annoyance to the Worms, or bring a savor which might be offen∣sive to the curiousness of some Neighbor carkass. But (which abates the value of this oyntment) Fools might buy it, and Knaves sell it; Survivers frequent∣ly bestow'd it upon those in Death, whose Lives (of all the world) they would the least desire should be repeated. The Ignorant might dye supply'd of this; and, when they lay down in the Bed of dust, might sleep as sweet as Socrates.
But it is one good quality of a good Name, that 'tis the wise man's purchase; and vouchsafed in his death, only to those whose lives men lov'd. This is an Oynt∣ment, which, when the waters are come in, almost unto our Souls, still floats above; and makes the wise esteem himself out of the reach of drowning; like Oyl, it heals the wounds bad times inflict; like Oyl, 'twill keep us safe, although perhaps repute may be attempt∣ed
to be venom'd with the poyson of Asps which lies under some lips. A good Name is better than precious Oyntment, and
Mos antiquitùs suit ut Nobi∣lium Corpora sepelienda ungerentur, & cum aro∣matibus sepe∣lirentur
Casaub. Exerc. in Bar. Annal.
Mark 14.8.