Sickness is certainly not a pleasant thing--necessary, profitable, if
you please, but not pleasant. It cannot be pleasant; for it is the
punishment for sin. Angels are never sick, because they are of that
world of which the inhabitant shall not say, "I am sick." Sickness
helps to crumble us into death; diseases are Death's servants. Death
sends them out in their different liveries as his couriers and
forerunners; they apprise sinners that their Master is coming into
their country, passing by that way, will perhaps "stand at their door
and knock," warning each to be ready to leave all and follow death,
as Peter said he and his fellow-apostles had done for Christ
(H. E. I. 1561).
1. Bodily pain often accompanies sickness. This is sometimes felt in
so grievous and dreadful a degree that the sufferer wishes and prays
for death to be relieved of his agonies. When David was tried in this
way he said, "The pains of hell gat hold upon me"--a strong
expression, meaning very excruciating pains. Who can tell but those
who have felt them what sufferings belong to the burning fever, the
tormenting headache, &c.? The curious machine is out of order; the
wheels grind and grate against each other; "the harp with a thousand
strings is out of tune and full of discords." The very means taken
for recovery often, for a time at least, increase pain and suffering.
We admire the wisdom which God has given to man to discover the
healing virtues concealed in Nature's works. But most of these,
excellent in their effects, are nauseous to the taste. It seems as if
Providence had ordained this on purpose that everything should
conspire in sickness to make it a suffering, uncomfortable time, in
order the more deeply to impress on us the salutary lessons it is
intended to teach us.
2. The interruption it causes to the active duties of life. Health is
the one thing needful, not only to the enjoyment of life, but to the
vigorous and successful discharge of the duties.
3. One might mention a third evil, viz., the trouble one gives in
sickness to those around us, only you might be ready to cry out, "We
cannot allow this to be either a trouble or an evil; what sister or
affectionate brother would think this a trouble?" But often the
sufferer feels it keenly.