〃old…fashioned divinity；〃 and the like phrases；who does not know the
heavy fire of such language which is continually poured on the 〃old
paths〃 of faith in some organs of public opinion； and from some pulpits
and platforms？ Novelty is the idol of the day。 Free handling；
enlightened views； rational interpretation； science （so called） before
the Bible； these are the guiding principles of many in this age。 Tell
them that any religious idea is old； and they seem to think it is
probably false！ Tell them that it is new； and it is probably true！
But I have yet to learn that all new views of religion are necessarily
better than the old。 It is not so in the work of men's hands。 I doubt
if this nineteenth century can produce an architect who could design
better buildings than the Parthenon or Coliseum； or a mason who could
rear fabrics which will last so long。 It certainly is not so in the
work of men's minds。 Thucydides is not superseded by Macaulay； nor
Homer by Milton。 Why； then； are we to suppose that old theology is
necessarily inferior to new？
For； after all； when modern scoffers at 〃old paths〃 and worn…out creeds
have said their say； there remain some stern facts which can never be
explained away； and some questions which can only receive one answer。 I
ask boldly； What extensive good has ever been done in the world； except
by the theology of the 〃old paths〃？ and I confidently challenge a
reply； because I know that none can be given。 I affirm； unhesitatingly；
that there never has been any spread of the gospel； any conversion of
nations or countries； any successful evangelistic work； excepting by
the old…fashioned distinct doctrines of the early Christians and the
Reformers。 I invite any opponent of dogmatic theology to name a single
instance of a country； or town； or people； which has ever been
Christianized by merely telling men that 〃Christ was a great moral
Teacher；that they must love one another； that they must be true； and
just； and unselfish； and generous； and brotherly； and high…souled；〃 and
the like。 No！ no！ no！ Not one single victory can such teaching show us：
not one trophy can such teaching exhibit。 It has wrought no deliverance
on the earth。 The victories of Christianity； wherever they have been
won； have been won by distinct doctrinal theology； by telling men of
Christ's vicarious death and sacrifice； by showing them Christ's
substitution on the cross； and His precious blood； by teaching them
justification by faith； and bidding them believe on a crucified
Saviour； by preaching ruin by sin； redemption by Christ； regeneration
by the Spirit； by lifting up the brazen serpent； by telling men to look
and live；to believe； repent； and be converted。 These are the 〃old
paths。〃 This； this is the only teaching which for eighteen centuries
God has honoured with success； and is honouring at the present day both
at home and abroad： Let the teachers of a broad and undogmatic
theology；or the preachers of the gospel of earnestness； and
sincerity； and cold morality； m or the advocates of a ceremonial；
sensuous； histrionic； Sacramentarian Christianity；let them； I say；
show us at this day any English village； or parish； or city； or
district； which has been evangelized； without the distinct doctrinal
teaching of the 〃old paths。〃 They cannot do it； and they never will。
There is no getting over facts。 The good that is done in the earth may
be paratively small。 Evil may abound； and ignorant impatience may
murmur and cry out that Christianity has failed。 But； we may depend on
it； if we want to do good and shake the world； we must fight with the
old apostolic weapons； and stick to the 〃old paths。〃
Does any reader doubt the truth of what I am saying； and think I am
going too far？ I ask him to listen for a moment to the two following
arguments； and overthrow them if he can。
For one thing； I bid him turn to the lives of all the most eminent
saints who have adorned the Church of Christ since its great Head left
the world； and summon them as witnesses。 I will not weary my readers
with long lists of names； for happily they are legion。 Let us examine
the holiest Fathers； and Schoolmen； and Reformers； and Puritans； and
Anglicans； and Dissenters； and Churchmen of every school； and
Christians generally of every name； and nation； and people； and tongue。
Let us search their diaries； analyze their biographies； and study their
letters。 Let us just see what manner of men they have been in every
age； who； by the consent of all their contemporaries； have been really
holy； and saintly； and good。 Where will you find one of them who did
not cling to the 〃old paths〃 of simple faith in the atonement and
sacrificial work of Christ？ who did not hold certain great distinct
doctrinal views； and live in the belief of them？ I am satisfied you
will not find one！ In their clearness of perception and degree of
spiritual light； in the proportion they have assigned to particular
articles of faith； they may have differed widely。 In their mode of
expressing their theological opinions they may not have agreed。 But
they have always had one mon stamp and mark。 They have not been
content with vague ideas of 〃earnestness； and goodness； and sincerity；
and charity。〃 They have had certain systematic； sharply…cut； and
positive views of truth。 They have known whom they believed； and what
they believed； and why they believed。 And so it always will be。 You
will never have Christian fruits without Christian roots； whatever
novel…writers may say； you will never have eminent holiness without the
〃old paths〃 of dog…matic theology。
For another thing； I bid him turn to the death…beds of all who die with
solid fort and good hope； and appeal to them。 There are few of us
who are not called on occasionally； as we travel through life； to see
people passing through the valley of the shadow of death； and drawing
near to their latter end； and to those 〃things unseen which are
eternal。〃 We all of us know what a vast difference there is in the
manner in which such people leave the world； and the amount of fort
and hope which they seem to feel。 Can any of us say that he ever saw a
person die in peace who did not know distinctly what he was resting on
for acceptance with God； and could only say； in reply to inquiries；
that he was 〃earnest and sincere〃？ I can only give my own experience： I
never saw one。 Oh； no！ The story of Christ's moral teaching； and
self…sacrifice； and example； and the need of being earnest； and
sincere； and like Him； will never smooth down a dying pillow。 Christ
the Teacher； Christ the great Pattern； Christ the Prophet； will not
suffice。 We want something more than this！ We want the old； old story
of Christ dying for our sins； and rising again for our justification。
We want Christ the Mediator； Christ the Substitute； Christ the
Intercessor； Christ the Redeemer； in order to meet with confidence the
King of Terrors； and to say； 〃Oh death； where is thy sting？ Oh grave；
where is thy victory？〃 Not a few； I believe； who have gloried all their
lives in rejecting dogmatic religion； have discovered at last that
their 〃broad theology〃 is a miserable forter； and the gospel of mere
〃earnestness〃 is no good news at all Not a few； I firmly believe； could
be named； who at the eleventh hour have cast aside their favourite；
new…fashioned views； have fled for refuge to the 〃old paths〃 and the
precious blood； and left the world with no other hope than the
old…fashioned Evangelical doctrine of faith in a crucified Jesus。
Nothing in their life's religion has given them such peace as the
simple truth grasped at the eleventh hour；
〃Just as I am： without one plea；
But that Thy blood was shed for me；
And that Thou bidst me e to Thee
O Lamb of God； I e。〃
Surely； when this is the case； we have no need to be ashamed of the
〃old paths；〃 and of walking therein。
I ask every reader of this paper to respect the logic of facts。 Give
the direction of Jeremiah the attention it deserves。 If you once begin
to think seriously about your soul； never be ashamed of asking for 〃the
old paths；〃 and walking in them。 Yes！ do not merely look at them and
talk of them； but actually walk in them。 Let no scorn of the world； let
no ridicule of smart writers； let no sneer of liberal critics； shake
your confidence in those paths。 Only try them； and you will find they
are the good way； 〃a way of pleasantness and peace。〃
III。 From Jeremiah's general advice and special directions let me now
turn to the precious promise with which our text concludes。 〃Walk in
the old paths；〃 saith the Lord； 〃and ye shall find rest to your souls。〃
I cannot doubt that our Lord Jesus Christ had these words of the
prophet in His mind； when He proclaimed that glorious invitation which
is so wisely quoted in our munion Service： 〃e unto Me