Prov. iii. 17. Her loays are ways of pleasantness, and all her
paths are peace.
TO be sincerely and eminently religious is consi- dered by the world as a symptom of weakness and folly. But the Scriptures represent such a life as characteristic of true wisdom. Upon such '■' wisdom" Solomon bestows the highest commendations'": he
^ ver. 13 — 16. That this is the true meaning of "wisdom" and " understanding." is evident from Job xxviii. 28.
speaks of it as incomparably more precious than gold, or rubies, or any earthly good whatever : he paints her as a queen disposing of riches, honour, and lon- gevity to all her subjects : and, because we are more captivated by the idea of pleasure than of any thing else, he commends her to us in the text as productive of it in the highest possible degree.
We are naturally led to shew from the words be- fore us, that the duties of religion are,
I. Pleasant in their exercise — In confirmation of this truth, let us consider religion,
1. In a general and comprehensive view — [Religion, as our Lord informs us, is comprehended in two
things ; the love of God, and the love of our neighbour.
Let us then inquire into the love of God. Suppose a person filled with admiration of the divine perfections as exhibited in the works of creation, must not that be a 2)Ieasa7it exercise of mind? Suppose him rising yet higher to the works of redemp- tion, and contemplating the justice and the mercy, the truth and the love, the wisdom and the goodness of the Deity, as united, and harmonizing, and glorified in the cross of Christ; suppose him, I say, contemplating these with rapture, till he burst forth in songs of praise similar to those uttered by the angels at the birth of Christ, or those which are now sung around the throne of God ; would there be no pleasure in such an employment? Suppose him yet further meditating upon the mercies of God vouchsafed to himself in particular, and adoring the triune God for all the wonders of electing, redeeming, sanctifying grace ; must not such a frame be pleasant ?
Inquire, next, into the love of our neighbour : suppose one to be exercising all those dispositions towards liim which his relation to us or his situation demand: suppose one to be rejoicing with him in his prosperity, or to be weeping over his adversity in tender sympathy ; suppose one to be stretching out the hand of charity for his relief, or administering consolation for his support; — is there no pleasure in all this? Surely he has not the heart of a man, who can question this obvious, indubitable truth.]
2. In its most difficult and painful duties — [Repentance is a principal duty of religion : but can we
find, it may be asked, any pleasure in that ? We answer, Yes : only view repentance in its proper light, and we will affirm that it is pleasant. Suppose that one of us had by mistake swallowed somewhat that was poisonous ; that we felt the deadly venom preying on our vitals ; and that our medical attendant informed
m PROVERBS, III. 17. [759.
us, that, unless removed from our stomach, the poison would destroy us in a few hours ; should we deem the exertions neces- sary for the removal of it a painful task ? Should we not gladly renew them, till we had accomplished our end? Should we not, instead of regi-etting the pain occasioned by them, feel thankful that we had an opportunity to use them? And would not the success that accompanied our efforts turn our pain into a plea- sure ? Such then is repentance ; it is a painful exertion to get rid of sin, which, if not expelled from our hearts, will utterly and eternally destroy us : and, though we do not say that pain can ever be pleasure, yet we affirm, that the very pangs of contrition, considered in a complex view, as consonant with our wishes and conducive to our good, are really pleasant : and for the truth of our assertion we will appeal to all who ever expe- rienced those pangs : we will ask whether the seasons of their deepest humiliation have not been the sweetest seasons of their lives? We fear no contradiction upon this point, unless from those who are wholly ignorant of the matter.