Yesterday I suggested that Dr. R C Sproul’s favorite word is “righteousness.” Today I can reveal Matthew Henry’s favorite theme. In the introduction to his beautiful little book, The Pleasantness of a Religious Life, Henry writes:
“In this, I confess, I indulge an inclination of my own; for this doctrine of the pleasantness of religion is what I have long had a particular kindness for, and taken all occasions to mention.”
The book is based on six sermons on why everyone should be a Christian, his text being Proverbs 3:17.
“Her [Wisdom's] ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.”
Henry asks why the Christian life is called “ways of pleasantness” and gives five possibilities:
1. It’s as if pleasantness were confined to those ways.
2. It’s as if pleasantness were not to be found anywhere else.
3. It’s as if pleasantness were confined to those ways, and not to be found anywhere else.
4. It’s as if pleasantness arose from the innate goodness of the ways themselves.
5. It denotes the superlative pleasantness of the Christian religion: it’s as pleasant as pleasantness itself.