Jer. vi. 16. Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ash for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.
WHATEVER bears the stamp of antiquity upon it, finds, for the most part, a favourable reception in the world, while innovations are admitted with caution and reserve. The Gospel itself is often discarded
under the idea that it is new. Even as far back as the days of Jeremiah, serious religion was deemed a novelty : but the prophet claimed the people's regard to it, no less from the consideration of its antiquity than of its inherent excellence —
To elucidate the words before us, we shall inquire,
I. What is that old and good way here spoken of? The explanation, which our Lord himself has given
of this passage3, shews, that we are not to confine its import to holiness alone, but must understand it as comprehending,
1. A penitential affiance in God —
[Christ declares that he himself is " the way," the only way to the Father b. To him we must come, trusting in his mediation and intercession, and looking for acceptance through him alone. Now this is certainly the old way, marked out by all the Jewish sacrifices, and trodden by Abel and our first parents. Nor can we doubt of its being the good way, since it was appointed of God himself, and has been approved by all his saints from the beginning of the world.]
2. A cheerful obedience to him —
[Our Lord expressly says, " Take my yoke upon you ;" nor can this ever be dispensed with. Though faith in Christ be the way of acceptance with God, yet obedience to him is the only means of manifesting the sincerity of our faith. Hence holiness is by the prophet called, " The Lord's highway0." This too is of great antiquity, and must be traced up through prophets and patriarchs to the days of " righteous Abel." And it must be acknowledged to be good, since it tends so much to the perfecting of our nature, and to the adorning of our holy religion.]
This however is not a mere speculative point ; as we shall see, if we inquire,
II. What is our duty with respect to it?
God having so plainly revealed it to us, it becomes us all,
1. To inquire after it —
[We should not go on in a presumptuous confidence that we are right; but should " stand and see," and attentively consider whither we are going. We should " ask" of those
a Matt. xi. 28, 29. b John xiv. 6. c Isai. xxxv. 8.