I am confident that the true Christian hath more true pleasure in suffering for Christ, or in one act of mortification, or victory over one lust, than the highest earthly potentate hath in all the honour that is done him, or good things enjoyed by him all his days.--_Swinnock._ +I. Wisdom of itself is satisfactory, as it implies a revelation of truth, and a detection of error to us.+ We are all naturally endowed with a strong appetite to know, to see, to pursue truth; and with an abhorrency of being deceived and entangled in mistake. +II. In its consequences it is pleasant and peaceable.+ 1. It assures us we take the best course and proceed as we ought. He that knows his way and is satisfied it is the true one, goes on merrily and carelessly, not doubting he shall in good time arrive at his destined journey's end. Wisdom therefore frees us from the company of anxious doubt in our actions, and the consequence of bitter repentance; for no man can doubt of what he is sure, nor repent of what he knows good. 2. It begets in us a hope of success in our actions, and is usually attended therewith. What is more delicious than hope? What more satisfactory than success? And well-grounded hope confirms resolution and quickens activity, which mainly conduce to the prosperous issue of designs. 3. Wisdom prevents discouragement from the possibility of ill success, yea, and makes disappointment itself tolerable. For we have reason to hope that the All-wise Goodness reserves a better reward for us, and will some time recompense us, not only the good purposes we unhappily pursued, but also the unexpected disappointment we patiently endured. 4. Wisdom makes all the troubles of life easy and supportable, by rightly valuing the importance and moderating the influence of them. . . . If sin vex and discompose us, yet this trouble Wisdom, by representing the Divine Goodness and His tender mercies in our ever-blessed Redeemer, doth presently allay. And for all other adversities it abates their noxious power by showing us they are either merely imaginary or very short and temporary: that they admit of remedy, or at most do not exclude comfort. 5. Wisdom hath always a good conscience attending it, that purest delight and richest cordial of the soul; that brazen wall and impregnable fortress against both external assaults and internal commotions.--_Barrow._ Some degree of comfort follows every good action, as heat accompanies fire, as beams and influences issue from the sun. Thus, saith one, is a fore-reward of well-doing. "_In_ doing thereof (not only _for_ doing) there is great reward" (Psa. xix. 11).--_Trapp._ The paths of wisdom bring us to the peace of reconciliation with God; to the peace of society and friendship with the angels of God: to the peace of comfort and quietness in our own hearts.--_Jermin._ They must be "ways of pleasantness" because "Thus saith the Lord." And if we feel them not to be so, we know them not.--_Bridges._