Psalm 16:6 The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places; yes, I have a goodly heritage. Christian pleasure contrasts strongly with that of sin. For — I. CHRISTIAN PLEASURE IS AN INEXHAUSTIBLE FORCE. The pleasures of sin are for a season. Permanency is the true need of life, but the pleasures of sin burn up the nature, they exhaust. Now, to some extent when you get intellect you get permanence; but in animalism, only impermanence. But those which are filled with the mind, the heart, the spirit are fresh, and they do not exhaust. And the pleasure of the spirit in God is the true joy of the soul. It is filled with all the fulness of God. II. CHRISTIAN PLEASURE IS NOT A DETERIORATING POWER. It never debilitates our nobility and manhood, it never lets us drown. But how much pleasure there is of which this cannot be said. III. CHRISTIAN PLEASURE IS NOT A NOISY THING. If I were asked what we have too much of, I should say, "Noise." We hear the blare of trumpets, and everything is loud. How quiet the old meeting houses were. The Quaker quiet — how pleasant it is. IV. CHRISTIAN PLEASURE IS NOT A DANGEROUS POWER. You cannot have too much of it. Some pleasures, even innocent ones, are dangerous; they tend to preoccupy the mind. You let them in as guests, and by and by you find they have taken up all the house. V. CHRISTIAN PLEASURE IS NOT A SELFISH PLEASURE. We should prove this question on ourselves as to our pleasures, whether they are in the main unselfish. Pleasure will not come if you seek it, but if you pursue duty pleasure will be found. Religious ways, are ways of pleasantness. The quiet Christian life which many have led has had in it more of charm than any other. (W. M. Statham.) Parallel Verses KJV: The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.WEB: The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places. Yes, I have a good inheritance. |
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