DISCOURSE IX. 183 the dawning of the day; Job vii. 3, 4. When pain takes bold of our flesh it seems to stretch the measures of time to a tedious length : We cry out as Moses expresses it ; Dent. xxviii. 67. In the morning we say, would to God it were evening ; and at the return of the evening we say again, would to God it were morning. Long are those hours indeed, whether of day -light of dark- ness, wherein there is no relief or intermission of acute pain. How tiresome a thing is it to count the clock at midnight in long succession, and to wait every hour for the distant approach of morning, while our eyes are unable to close themselves in slum- ber, and our anguish admits not the common refuge of sleep. There are multitudes among the race of mortals who have known these truths by sore experience. Blessed be God that we do not always feel them. But when we turn our thoughts to the heaven- ly world, where there is no pain, there we shall find no weari- some hours, no tedious days, though eternity with all its unmea- surable lengths of duration lies before us. What a dismal thought is eternal pain ? The very mention of it makes nature shudder, and stand aghast ; but futurity with all its endless years, in a land of peace and pleasure gives the soul-the most delighful pros- pect, for there is no shadow of uneasiness in that state to render our abode there tiresome, or to think the ages of it long. .5. Another evil that belongs to pain is, that " it has an un- happy tendency to ruffle the passions, and to render us fretful and peevish within ourselves, as well as towards those who are round about us. ", Even the kindest and the tenderest hand that minis- ters to our relief, can hardly secure itself from the peevish quar- rels of a man in extreme pain. Not that we are to suppose that this peevish humour, this fretfulness of spirit are thereby made innocent and perfectly excused : No, by no means ; but it must be acknowledged still, that continuance in pain is too ready to work up the spirit into frequent disquietude and eagerness : We are tempted to fret at every thing, we quarrel with every thing, we grow impatient under every delay, angry with our best friends, sharp and sudden in our resentments, with wrathful speeches breaking out of our lips. This peevish humour in a day of pain is so commòn a fault, that I fear it is too much excused and indulged. Let me rather say with myself, " My God is now putting me to the trial what sort of christian I am, and haw much I have learned of self - government, and through his grace I will subdue my uneasy pas- sions, though I cannot relieve my pain." O it is a noble point of honour gained in a sick chamber, or on a bed of anguish, to he pressed with extreme pain, and yet maintain a serenity and calmness of soul ; to be all meekness, and gentleness, and pa- tience, among our friends or attendants, under the sharp twinges
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