address to the men of his generation。 If they were really willing to
listen to his counsel to 〃stand； and see；〃 and consider their ways；
then he bids them 〃ask for the old paths。〃
Now what did Jeremiah mean when he spoke of the 〃old paths〃？ I find no
difficulty in answering that question。 I feel no doubt that the phrase
meant the old paths of faith in which the fathers of Israel had walked
for 1300 years；the paths of Abraham； Isaac； and Jacob；the paths of
Moses； and Joshua； and Samuel；the paths of David； and Solomon； and
Hezekiah； and Jehoshaphat；the paths in which the rule of life was the
Decalogue； and the rule of worship was that elaborate； typical；
sacrificial system of which the essence was faith in the ing
Redeemer。 That this was the standard around which the men of Jeremiah's
day were summoned to rally I shall never hesitate to maintain。 Fallen
and low as the spiritual condition of Israel often was； between the
first of the Judges and the last of the Kings； I fail to see any proof
that the Ten mandments and the law of sacrifice were ever dethroned
and repealed。 On the contrary； I believe they were honoured and revered
by every Jew who was 〃an Israelite indeed。〃 In the darkest days of the
Kings； I believe there were always a few who mourned secretly over the
corrupt state of the nation； and； like Simeon and Anna； kept the faith
and longed for better times。 In a general return to the 〃old paths；〃
and nothing short of the 〃old paths；〃 Jeremiah declared； was the only
prospect of hope for the future of his countrymen。
But is the principle laid down by Jeremiah a principle which applied to
his times alone？ Nothing of the kind！ I am firmly persuaded that one
chief medicine for the spiritual diseases of the nineteenth century is
a bold and unhesitating inquiry for 〃old paths；〃 old doctrines； and the
faith of the days that are past。 Error； no doubt； is often very
ancient； yet truth is always old。 Men's hearts are just what they were
6000 years ago； and need the same remedy。 God in that long period has
used several dispensations； and each succeeding age has enjoyed more
light。 But the foundation truths have always been the same； and the way
by which sinners have reached heaven has always been one and the same。
I say boldly that the age wants nothing new。 What it wants is plain；
distinct； unflinching teaching about 〃the old paths。〃 Give me no modern
road of man's invention。 Show me where patriarchs； and prophets； and
Apostles； and Fathers； and Reformers set down their feet； obtained a
good report； and made a mark on the world。 〃The old path is the good
way。〃
We want throughout Christendom a return to the old paths of the early
Christians。 The first followers of the Apostles； no doubt； were； like
their teachers； 〃unlearned and ignorant men。〃 They had no printed
books。 They had short creeds； and very simple forms of worship。 I doubt
much if they could have stood an examination in the Thirty…nine
Articles； or the Creed of Athanasius； or even in the Church Catechism。
But what they knew they knew thoroughly； believed intensely； and
propagated unhesitatingly； with a burning enthusiasm。 They grasped with
both hands； and not with finger and thumb； the Personality； the Deity；
the offices； the mediation； the atoning work； the free and full grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ； and the inseparable necessity of repentance；
faith； and a Christlike life of holiness； self…denial； and charity。 On
these truths they lived； and for them they were ready to die。 Armed
with these truths； without gold to bribe or the sword to pel assent；
they turned the world upside down； confounded the Greek and Roman
philosophers； and altered in two or three centuries the whole face of
Society。 Can we mend these 〃old paths〃？ Can we improve them after
eighteen centuries？ Does human nature require any different medicine？ I
believe the bones of the oldest human skeleton that ever was unearthed
are just like the bones of men in these days； and I believe the moral
nature and hearts of men； after the lapse of ages； are just the same。
We had better ask for the 〃old paths。〃
We want throughout the Church of England a return to the old paths of
our Protestant Reformers。 I grant they were rough workmen； and made
some mistakes。 They worked under immense difficulties； and deserve
tender judgment and fair consideration。 But they revived out of the
dust grand foundation truths which had been long buried and forgotten。
They brought into just prominence such cardinal verities as the
sufficiency and supremacy of Scripture； the right and duty of private
judgment； and free justification by faith without the deeds of the law；
and without any ordained man or any ceremony interposing between the
soul and the Saviour。 By embalming those truths in our Articles and
Liturgy； by incessantly pressing them on the attention of our
forefathers； they changed the whole character of this nation； and
raised a standard of true doctrine and practice； which； after three
centuries； is a power in the land； and has an insensible influence on
English character to this very day。 Can we mend these 〃old paths 〃？
Shall we improve them either by going back behind the Reformation and
increasing the ceremonials of religion on the one hand； or by adopting
lower views of inspiration and the atonement on the other？ I doubt it
entirely。 I believe the men of 300 years ago understood the real wants
of human nature better than many do in 1882。
Of course I am well aware that the 〃old paths〃 for which I have been
pleading are not popular in some quarters at this day。 In fact； the
views I have just propounded are in direct antagonism to much of the
so…caned wisdom of these times。 〃Effete systems；〃 〃old…world creeds；〃
〃fossil theology；〃 〃exploded theories；〃 〃worn…out doctrines；〃
〃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