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I. THE WAY OF RELIGION IS THE WAY OF WISDOM. They that are truly religious are wise, and the following of religion is the wisest course in the world.

1. The way of religion is the way of truth.

2. The way of God's commandments.

3. The way of faith, not of sense.

4. The way of holiness.

5. The way of irreconcilable opposition to the devil, the world, and the flesh.

6. The way of spiritual worship.

7. The straight and narrow way.

8. The way of universal obedience.

9. The good old way.This way is the way of wisdom, because —

1. God has directed the children of men into this way.

2. The Lord Jesus leads His people in this way.

3. The Spirit determines men to enter and walk in this way.

4. Jesus Himself took this way.

5. It is the way most agreeable to right reason.

6. It is the only way to happiness, here or hereafter.

II. THE WAYS OF RELIGION ARE THE MOST PLEASANT AND PEACEFUL WAYS. To whom are the ways of religion pleasant?

1. To those who have the art of walking in them.

2. To those who habituate themselves to close walking with God. Consider —

3. The testimony of the saints who, in all ages, have given this for their verdict of the ways of God.

4. That pleasure, innocency and holiness arrive always together at their height.

5. That religion, so far as it does prevail, frees us from the cause of our woe.

6. That God directs and assists His servants by His Spirit.

7. That the Lord binds upon His saints the walking in His ways with the softest and sweetest ties imaginable, the answering of which must needs create a pleasure in the doing thereof.

8. There is a sweetness interwoven with the Christian walk.

9. There is a transcendent pleasure at the end of the way.Religion, then, brings a calm into the soul which no other thing can do. It gives a rest and satisfaction that can nowhere else be found. It breaks the reigning power of lusts and corruptions, which cause the soul much uneasiness. It brings the soul to the accomplishment of its desires. It brings into a state of resignation to the will of God. The pleasures of religion are of such an elevated nature that all others seem but low and grovelling in comparison of them; such as the victory over lusts and corruptions; the approbation of one's own conscience;the assurance of God's acceptance; the joy of doing good to others; communion with God; assurance of the Lord's love and eternal salvation. Such pleasures are refined and pure; they satisfy without loathing or disgust; they are ready, and near at hand; and lasting. Religion helps a man to draw the greatest possible pleasure from created things,

III. PEACE ALSO IS TO BE ENJOYED IN THE WAY OF RELIGION. A sevenfold peace.

1. With God.

2. Of conscience.

3. Of heart by the soul's rest in God.

4. Of mind.

5. With the creatures of God.

6. As prosperity.

7. Peace eternal.What peace can any one have in the way of sin? What peace is there to a man who is a stranger to the Mediator of peace? What peace so long as stinging guilt remains in the conscience, unsatisfied desires in the heart, and lusts reigning within?

(T. Boston, D.D.)

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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.