And on this mighty pavement, stood a multitude of many thousands;
and through bright lines of soldiery, stretching far down the majestic
nave, slowly advanced a solemn and stately procession, clothed with
purple, and crimson, and white, and blazing with rubies and diamonds;
slowly it advanced amidst kneeling crowds and strains of heavenly music;
and so it compassed about the altar of God, to perform the great
commemorative rite of Christ's resurrection. Expect from me no sectarian
deprecation; it was a goodly rite, and fitly performed. But, amidst solemn
utterances, and lowly prostrations, and pealing anthems, and rising
incense, and all the surrounding magnificence of the scene, shall I tell
you what was my thought? One sigh of contrition, one tear of repentance,
one humble prayer to God, though breathed in a crypt of the darkest
catacomb, is worth all the splendors of this gorgeous ceremonial and this
glorious temple.
VIRTUE IN OBSCURITY.
And let me add, that upon many a lowly bosom, the gem of virtue shines
more bright and beautiful than it is ever likely to shine in any court of
royalty or crown of empire: and this, for the very reason that it shines
in loneliness and obscurity, and is surrounded with no circlet of gazing
and flattering eyes.
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