The Enjoyments of Religion
D. Malcolm, LL.D. Proverbs 3:17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. Wisdom denotes e life of piety. I. THE NATURE AND DESIGN OF RELIGION. It was revealed to show us the way of salvation; to guide our feet into the paths of peace; to exalt us to happiness here and to glory hereafter. 1. Consider the doctrines she reveals. Their direct tendency is to banish the fears of guilt, to console, and to animate with joy the fearful heart. 2. Consider the precepts which religion enjoins. Are they not perfective in our nature, and directly conducive to felicity? 3. Consider the promised aid she imparts. A gracious Comforter continually surrounds the godly man, who imparts every needful grace. 4. Consider the glorious rewards she reveals. To every desire of the heart she opens the most unbounded delights — delights commensurate to the widest wishes of the soul, and endless as eternity. II. THE NATURE OF THAT PLEASURE ENJOYED BY THOSE WHO WALK IN THE WAYS OF RELIGION. The subduing of our desires and appetites is necessary to e course of piety; but even self-denial and the Cross become sources of pleasure. II. THE DUTIES WHICH RELIGION ENJOINS HER VOTARIES TO OBSERVE. 1. The joys of prayer and praise. 2. The joys resulting from the sacred services of religion. 3. From meditation on the Scriptures. 4. From observance of the Divine commandments. Such are the pleasures, the delightful feelings, and peaceful satisfactions which result from walking in the ways of religion; and what enjoyments are comparable to these? (D. Malcolm, LL.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.