pillar] Monuments and memorials of the dead are not unlawfull, but may be usefull to minde such as survive of the vertues of the deceased for their imitation, and of the hope of their happy resurrection to eternall life; But they must not be set up with too much pompe, nor out of superstition or immoderate affection, which sometimes produce each other; and it is not improbable that Idolatry had its beginning from memorials of the dead made for consolation of the living. See the booke of Wisdome, Chap. 14. from vers. 12. to the 23. A cleare conviction of the Papists, who allow that Apocryphall booke the credit and authoritie of Canonicall Scripture. unto this day] That is the day of Moses writing this Story, which continued many yeares after this, for there is mention made of Rachels sepulcher, 1 Samuel 10:2. which could not so well be kept in memory if the pillar remained not: the Papists take upon them to tell that this monument was made up of twelve stones in remembrance of Jacobs twelve sonnes, with a pillar like a pyramis set upon them all under the shadow of an oake; and this Adrich. delivereth upon the report of Bredenbachius who said he saw it: and others tell the like story upon the relation of pilgrims; So Adrich. Delph. Theatr. p. 19. in Tribe Benjam. &Salian. Annal. An. mund. 2306. p. 340. Colossians 1. But it is like these narrations are either fained to foment superstitious pilgrimages, or that additionall structures were made of later times to revive and refresh the memory of Rachel, and of the deare love of Jacob towards her, both alive and dead.