AN
ADDRESS,
DELIVERED
AT THE INTERMENT
OF
MRS. HARRIET STORRS,
CONSORT OF
REV. RICHARD S. STORRS,
BRAINTREE, MASS.
JULY 11, 1834.
BY
REV. JOHN CODMAN, D. D.
Printed for private distribution.
BOSTON:
MUNROE AND FRANCIS.
1834.
ADDRESS.
There are some events, in the providence of God,so completely overwhelming as to render it extremelydifficult, almost impossible, to give utterance to the fullfeelings of the soul through the medium of words. Languagerefuses its aid to relieve the burdened heart; andthe oppressed spirit finds itself more inclined to the deepsilence of grief, than to the expression of its sorrows bythe human voice.
When the heart-rending intelligence reached us of theevent that has filled our souls with grief and dismay, wefelt that no language could relieve our distress or mitigateour sorrow. We were dumb: we opened not our mouth.Our hearts bled—and they bled most freely in silence.But the solemnities of the occasion await us, and theusages of society demand, that we should attempt to giveutterance, in the presence of our fellow creatures, to thosefeelings, which we can pour out before our compassionate[Pg 4]God and Saviour in sighs and tears, without the interventionof set forms of speech.
But where shall we find words to express the depth ofour affliction? Where shall we find language to depictthe character of the dear departed—or to administer comfortand support to the beloved survivors?
Mysterious Heaven! how unsearchable are thy judgments,and thy ways past finding out! We bow beforethat holy and righteous Being, whose inspiration gave usunderstanding, and who has the undoubted right toresume the gift which he bestowed. We know that allhis ways are just and equal, and that he will not hold usaccountable for any act, committed in the absence of thatmental and moral power by which we are enabled to distinguishbetween right and wrong.
On the painful and distressing circumstances, bywhich our ever lamented and beloved friend is numberedamong the silent dead, we will dwell no longer than toexpress an entire and unwavering conviction, that hercharacter and present condition cannot in the least degreebe affected by the manner of her removal from thissublunary state. We have not the shadow of a doubt,that the spiritual intelligence, which once beamed uponus with such mild and gentle lustre, and which was,for a short season, shrouded in darkness, is now rekindledby the same gracious hand that so mysteriously overshadowedit, to burn, with increasing and never-endingbrightness, with seraphs that surround the throne of God.[Pg 5]
It is utterly impossible for the speaker to do justice tothe character of our much loved friend, though it has beenhis privilege to have known her worth for nearly thirtyyears. The circle of christians which, at the time ofhis first acquaintance with her, then resided in ourmetropolis, many of whom are now in heaven, weredistinguished for deep and ardent piety. Surroundedas they were by fashionable and increasing errors, theymaintained their integrity and held fast their attachme