Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying… I. WHAT ARE THE EVILS WHICH FLOW FROM PAIN, AND USUALLY ATTEND IT IN THIS LIFE? 1. Pain has a natural tendency to make the mind sorrowful as well as the body uneasy. 2. Another evil which attends on pain is this, that it so indisposes our nature as often to unfit us for the business and duties of the present state. 3. Pain unfits us for the enjoyment of life as well as for the labours and duties of it. 4. Another inconvenience and evil which belongs to pain is that it makes time and life itself appear tedious and tiresome, and adds a new burden to all other grievances. 5. Another evil that belongs to pain is that it has an unhappy tendency to ruffle the passions, and to render us fretful and peevish within ourselves, as well as towards those who are round about us. 6. Pain carries a temptation with it, sometimes to repine and murmur at the providence of God. 7. To add no more, pain and anguish of the flesh have sometimes prevailed so far as to distract the mind as well as destroy the body. Extreme smart of the flesh distresses feeble nature, and turns the whole frame of it upside down in wild confusion. It has actually worn out this animal frame, and stopped all the springs of vital motion. II. WHAT JUST AND CONVINCING ARGUMENTS OR PROOFS CAN BE GIVEN THAT THERE ARE NO PAINS NOR UNEASY SENSATIONS TO BE FELT BY THE SAINTS IN A FUTURE STATE, NOR TO BE FEARED AFTER THIS LIFE? 1. God has assured us in His Word that there is no pain for holy souls to endure in the world to come. 2. God has not provided any medium to convey pain to holy souls after they have dropped this body of flesh. 3. There are no moral causes nor reasons why there should be anything of pain provided for the heavenly state. III. WHAT ARE THE CHIEF MORAL REASONS OR DESIGNS OF THE BLESSED GOD IN SENDING PAIN ON HIS CREATURES HERE BELOW, AND AT THE SAME TIME SHOW THAT THESE DESIGNS AND PURPOSES OF GOD ARE FINISHED. 1. Pain is sometimes sent into our natures to awaken slothful and drowsy Christians out of their spiritual slumbers, or to rouse stupid sinners from a state of spiritual death. 2. To punish men for their faults and follies, and to guard them against new temptations. 3. To exercise and try the virtues and the graces of His people. IV. INQUIRE WHAT ARE THOSE SPIRITUAL LESSONS OF INSTRUCTION WHICH MAY BE LEARNED ON EARTH FROM THE PAINS WE HAVE SUFFERED OR MAY SUFFER IN THE FLESH. 1. Pain teaches us feelingly what feeble creatures we are, and how entirely dependent on God for every moment of ease. 2. The great evil that is contained in the nature of sin, because it is the occasion of such intense pain and misery to human nature. 3. How dreadfully the great God can punish sin and sinners when He pleases in this world or in others. 4. When we feel acute pains we may learn something of the exceeding greatness of the love of Christ, even the Son of God, that glorious Being who took upon Him flesh and blood for our sakes, that He might be capable of pain and death, though He had never sinned. 5. The value and worth of the Word of God, and the sweetness of a promise which can give the kindest relief to a painful hour, and soothe the anguish of nature. 6. The excellency and use of the mercy-seat in heaven, and the admirable privilege of prayer.Lessons: 1. The frequent returns of pain may put us in mind to offer to God His due sacrifices of praise for the years of ease which we have enjoyed. 2. To sympathise with those who suffer. 3. Since our natures are subject to pain it should teach us watchfulness against every sin, lest we double our own distresses by the mixture of guilt with them. 4. Pain in the flesh may sometimes be sent to teach us to wean ourselves by degrees from this body which we love too well; this body which has all the springs of pain in it. 5. We are taught to breathe after the blessedness of the heavenly state wherein there shall be no pain. (T. Hannam.) Parallel Verses KJV: And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. |
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