The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-05-04
At the M. e. Church.


Sparrow, from the text found in
Rev. xxi, 4: "Neither shall there be
any more PAIN
All form of life in this world is
subject to pain. Especially is this
true of man. From the cradle to
the grave he is compelled to fight
against it.
My text contains declaration
which all men desire to be true,
"Neither shall there be any more
PAIN The subject of pain is the
one l propose to bring before you
this morning. Let US look at it in
plain practical way. Possibly we
may learn something that shall
help us in the rice oflife.
first call your attention to the
fact that pain depresses our spirits.
This energizing force within us is a
necessity to meet life's duties sue
cessfully, and anything that i'm
pairs our spirits is great hindrance.
Again, pain depresses the body,
our physical frame in its normal
condition is capable of great endu-
rance. Man is the only being that
can live in every variety of climate.
Without this ability to perform he
could never become master of this
lower world. But when pain en-
terS in, his physical faculties are
impaired, and he is often compelled
for the time, at least, to lay down
the burdens of life.
Again, it is an old question and
yet new one, how did pain find its
way into the world? Some hold
that it is necessity, that according
to the laws of our being 1t is part
of US. To me it seems that the Bib
lical account is the only philosoph-
ical one, by one man sin entered the
world, and death by him.
Let us consider briefly, how pain
comes to us. By the law of inheri-
lance. Then again by the hand of
accident, or what is still worse, by
our own transgressions. How care
full then we should be TO study the
laws of our being, and ever keep in
mind the fact, that If we violate a
law some how the penalty must be
met. How important that each
generation rs it comes upon the
stage Of action should be carefully
instructed ia the laws IF our being,
in this way the world will become
better and wiser.
Let us now consider briefly how
pain may be used by our Heavenly
Father for our highest good. First,
it will arouse us from our lethargy.
Second, it will show us that some
thing more than material things
are needed for our highest happi-
ness. And besides this it will it
seems TO me, heighten the joys of
heaven. A great deal of what we
know is by the law of contrast. We
know of heat by cold, of summer by
winter, aud we only learn to appre-
ciate health after having endured
pain. And when we stand with the
redeemed throng, the joys of the
eternal world will be heightened by
the trials through which we have
passed.
Saved through suffering but not
by it, is written as with pen of
fire upon all of Gods dealings with
man. Let us not be discouraged or
give up the race of life, because we
are the subjects of pain. When we
think how wonderfully the Lord
has blessed us we should be filed
with gratitude. No burden that
has come to us is as heavy as it
might have been. Let us resolve
to alleviate pain in others, in every
possible way. This was the great
mission of the Savior of this world
to mankind.
Finally let us be thankful that
there is place, where we shall be
beyond and above the suferings of
the present life. Such was the WIS.,
ion that burst in upon John the rev.
elator and he eXclaims, "And there
shall he no more death, neither sor-
row nor crying, neither shall there
be any more pain for the former
things have passed away.
1t is the followers of Christ alone,
that can be cheered by this beauti-
ful vision. A friend of mine, DIR.
Cooke, made a statement a few
weeks ago something like this, an
my earlier ministry l preached a
great deal on faith and works, l do
not now underestimate these i'm
portant factors, but there are 9TH
er great facts that also deeply i'm
press me. Once dark shadow