Proverbs 3:17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. I. ENUMERATE SOME LEADING INSTANCES OF THIS GENERAL TRUTH. 1. It is pleasant to exchange a constant stream of worldly and vain thoughts, for the contemplation of God and heavenly things. 2. It is pleasant to exchange an obstinate stupidity or self-confidence for a penitential sense of sin, accompanied with a hope of forgiveness, founded on the sacrifice of Christ. 3. It is pleasant to exchange self-indulgence for self-denial. 4. It is pleasant to exchange a course of negligence, hypocrisy, and sensuality for a life of activity in the ways of God. 5. It is pleasant to exchange selfishness, injustice, cruelty, pride, and malevolence for an active benevolence towards mankind. 6. It is pleasant to live as a citizen of heaven, as one interested in the affairs of God's eternal kingdom. II. OBVIATE SOME CONTRARY OBJECTIONS. 1. There will be a secret demur about this pleasantness, on the ground of feeling no strong propensity towards it. 2. Of opposing the requirements of religion, conviction, humiliation, repentance, etc. 3. Of the influence of carnal relations and acquaintances. 4. Of the conduct of some professors. Let us try ourselves, whether the ways of wisdom are indeed pleasant to us. Have we felt the bitterness of sin, and of a sinful state? Have we felt our distance from this pleasure, and impossibility of getting near it? Have we seen the glory of God, universally? Have we seen the transcendent glory, and tasted the sweetness of the person and love of Jesus Christ? Have we an insatiable thirst after this sweetness? (J. Love, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.WEB: Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace. |
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