DISCOURSE IX. No Pain among the Blessed. Rev. xxi. 4. Neither shall there be any more Pain. THERE have been some divines in ancient times,' as well as in our present age, who suppose this prophecy relates to some glorious and happy event here on earth, wherein the saints and faithful followers of Christ shall be delivered from the bondage and miseries to which they have been exposed in all former ages, and shall enjoy the blessingswhich these words promise. Among these writers some have placed this happy state before the resur- rection of the body ; others make it to belong to that first resur- rection which is spoken of in Rev. xx. 6. But let this prophecy have a particular aspect upon what earthly period soever, yet all must grant it is certainly true concerning the heavenly state ; from whose felicities, taken in the literal sense, these figurative expressions are derived to foretel the happiness of any period of the church in this world ; and in this sense, as part of our happi- ness in heaven, I shall understand the words here, and propose them as the foundation of my present discourse. Among the many things that make this life uncomfortable and render mankind unhappy here below, this is one that has a large influence, namely, that in this mortal state we are all liable to pain, from which we shall be perfectly delivered in the life to come. The Greek work which is here translated pain, signifies also toil and fatigue and excessive labour of the body, as well as anguish and vexation of the spirit : But since in the two other places of the New Testament where it is used, the word more properly signifies the pain of the body, I presume to un- derstand it chiefly in this sense also in my text. I need not spend time in explaining what pain is, to persons who dwell in flesh and blood : There is not one of you in this assembly but is better acquainted with the nature of it by the sense of feeling, than it is possible for the wisest philosopher to inform you by all bis learned language. Yet that I may proceed regularly, I would just give you this short description of it : " Pain is an uneasy perception of the soul, occasioned by some indisposition of the body to which it is united ;" whether tisis arise from some disorder or malady in the flesh itself, or from some injury received from without by wounds, bruises, or any thing of the like kind. Now this tort of uneasy sensations is. not 'to be found or feared in heaven. In order to malee our present meditations on this part of the blessedness of heaven useful and joyful to us while we are here on earth, let us enquire : M 2
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