Proverbs 3:17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. This passage breathes the voice of the most cheering encouragement. I. EVINCE THE TRUTH OF THIS DECLARATION. The religious man is delivered by religion from those causes of solicitude, terror, and affliction which are the principal sources of the miseries of mankind; the experiences, helps, and consolalions to which, in proportion as men are not religious, they are strangers. 1. The most grievous of all distresses is the sense of unpardoned guilt. From this the religious man is set free. He looks up to God, through Christ, as to a reconciled Father. The burden is removed from his soul, and he goeth on his way rejoicing. Every token of grateful obedience which he is enabled to render overspreads his heart with gladness. As he advances in religion he advances in happiness. 2. Another distress arises from the immoderate fear of falling away from God under future temptations. The religious man fears for himself. But his fear is not an overwhelming terror. It is a fear which excludes all dependence on his own strength. It is a fear which produces humility, caution, vigilance, meditation, and prayer. But it is not a fear which brings anguish; it is not a fear which urges to despondence. 3. The religious man is delivered from corroding anxieties as to the events which may befall him during the residue of his life. 4. He is also delivered from the fear of the last enemy, Death. 5. There yet remain various circumstances which attend the religious man in the ordinary course of his life, and contribute no small accessions to the daily amount of his happiness. By the integrity and kindness of his conduct he is often placed beyond the reach of those who may be desirous of injuring him. His domestic life is a source of happiness. His friends will be found tender and faithful. The general temper of his mind is cheerful serenity. From the common bounties of providence he derives higher satisfaction than other men. II. APPLY THE INSTRUCTION WHICH MAY BE DRAWN FROM THE TEXT. 1. Address those who are decidedly wicked. 2. Those who are wavering between the paths of religion and the paths of guilt. 3. Those who are religious. (Thomas Gisborne, M.A.) 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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