Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume IV/Commodianus/The Instructions of Commodianus/Chapter 74

LXXIV.&#8212;Of Funeral Pomp.

Thou who seekest to be careful of the pomp of death art in error.&#160; As a servant of God, thou oughtest even in death to please Him.&#160; Alas that the lifeless body should be adorned in death!&#160; O true vanity, to desire honour for the dead!&#160; A mind enchained to the world; not even in death devoted to Christ.&#160; Thou knowest the proverbs.&#160; He wished to be carried through the forum.&#160; Thus ye, who are like to him, and living with untrained mind, wish to have a happy and blessed day at your death, that the people may come together, and that you may see praise with mourning.&#160; Thou dost not foresee whither thou mayest deserve to go when dead.&#160; Lo, they are following thee; and thou, perchance, art already burning, being driven to punishment.&#160; What will the pomp benefit the dead man?&#160; Thou shalt be accused, who seekest them on account of those gatherings.&#160; Thou desirest to live under idols.&#160; Thou deceivest thyself.