206 THE WORLD TO COME. And there is many a christian here on earth that have been made to confess, they had never learned the practice of some of these virtues, if they had not been taught by such sort of discipline. Pain, which was brought into human nature by sin, is happily suited by the providence of God to such a state of probation, wherein creatures born in the midst of sins and sorrows are by degrees recovered to the love of God and holiness, and fitted for the world of peace and joy. But when we have done with this world, and departed from the tribes of mortal men, and from all the scenes of allurement and temptation, there is no more need that such lessons should be taught us in heaven, nor any painful scourge made use of by the Father of spirits, to carry on, or to maintain the divine work of holiness and grace within us. Let us survey this matter ac- cording. to the foregoing particulars. Is it possible that while the blessed above are surrounded with endless satisfactions flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb, they should forget their benefactor, and neglect his praises? is it possible they should dwell in immortal health and ease without interruption, under the constant vital influences_ of the King of glory, and yet want gratitude to the spring of all their blessings ? Nor is there any need for the inhabitants Of a world, where no pains nor sorrows are found, " to learn compassion and sym- pathy to those who suffer," for there are no sufferers there : But love and joy, intense and intimate love, and a harmony op joy runs through all that blessed company, and unites them in an universal sympathy, if I may so-express it, or blissful sensation of each other's happiness. And I might add also, could there be such a thing as sorrow and misery in those regions, this divine principle of love would work sweetly and powerfully toward such objects in all necessary compassion. What if pain was once made a spur to our duties in this frail state of flesh and blood -? What if pain were designed as a guard Against temptation, and a means to awaken our watch against new transgression and guilt ? But in a climate where all is holiness, and all is peace, in the full enjoyment of the great God, and secured by that everlasting covenant which was sealed by the blood of the Lamb, there is no more danger of sinning. The soul is moulded into the more complete likeness of God; by liv- ing for ever under the light of his countenance, and the warmest beams of his love. What if we had need of the stings of pain and anguish in time past; to wean us by degrees from this body, and from all sensible things,' and to make us willing to part with them all at the call of God ? Yet when the arrive at the hea- venly world, we shall have no more need of being weaned from earth, we shall never look back upon that state of pain and frailty
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