within in order； and giving to each faculty its place and work。 When a
man begins to find order in his heart in place of rebellion and
confusion； his soul begins to understand something of quiet and peace。
There is no true inward happiness until the true King is on the throne。
Rest such as this is the privilege of all believers in Christ。 Some
know more of it； and some less； some feel it only at distant intervals；
and some feel it almost always。 Few enjoy the sense of it without many
a battle with unbelief； and many a conflict with fear： but all who
truly e to Christ know something of this rest。 Ask them； with all
their plaints and doubts； whether they would give up Christ and go
back to the world。 You will get only one answer。 Weak as their sense of
rest may be； they have got hold of something which does them good； and
that something they cannot let go。
Rest such as this is within reach of all who are willing to seek it and
receive it。 The poor man is not so poor but he may have it； the
ignorant man is not so ignorant but he may know it； the sick man is not
so weak and helpless but he may get hold of it。 Faith； simple faith； is
the one thing needful in order to possess Christ's rest。 Faith in
Christ is the grand secret of happiness。 Neither poverty； nor
ignorance； nor tribulation； nor distress can prevent men and women
feeling rest of soul； if they will only e to Christ and believe。
Rest such as this is the possession which makes men independent。 Banks
may break； and money make itself wings and flee away。 War； pestilence；
and famine may break in on a land； and the foundations of the earth be
out of course。 Health and vigour may depart； and the body be crushed
down by loathsome disease。 Death may cut down wife； and children； and
friends； until he who once enjoyed them stands entirely alone。 But the
man who has e to Christ by faith will still possess some thing which
can never be taken from him。 Like Paul and Silas； he will sing in
prison； like Job； bereaved of children and property； he will bless the
name of the Lord。 He is the truly independent man who possesses that
which nothing can take away。
Rest such as this is the possession which makes men truly rich。 It
lasts； it wears； it endures； it lightens the solitary home； it smoothes
down the dying pillow； it goes with men when they are placed in their
coffins； it abides with them when they are laid in their graves。 When
friends can no longer help us； and money is no longer of use；when
doctors can no longer relieve our pain； and nurses can no longer
minister to our wants； when sense begins to fail； and eye and ear can
no longer do their duty； then； even then； the 〃rest〃 which Christ gives
in the 〃old paths〃 will be shed abroad in the heart of the believer。
The words 〃rich〃 and 〃poor〃 will change their meaning entirely one day。
He is the only rich man who has e to Christ by faith； and from
Christ has received rest。
This is the rest which Jeremiah was missioned to proclaim。 This is
the rest which Christ offers to give to all who are labouring and
heavy…laden； this is the rest for which He invites them to e to Him；
this is the rest which I want all who read this paper to enjoy； and to
which I bring an invitation this day。 May God grant that the invitation
may not be brought in vain！
（a） And now； before we part； let me ask if there is any reader who is
inwardly desiring rest of soul； and yet knows not where to turn for it？
Remember this day； that there is only one place where rest can be
found。 Governments cannot give it； education will not impart it；
worldly amusements cannot supply it； money will not purchase it。 It can
only be found in the hand of Jesus Christ； and to His hand you must
turn if you would find peace within。
There is no royal road to rest of soul。 Let that never be forgotten。
There is only one way to the Father；Jesus Christ； one door into
heaven；Jesus Christ； and one path to heart…peace and rest；Jesus
Christ。 By that way all labouring and heavy…laden ones must go；
whatever be their rank or condition。 Kings in their palaces； and
paupers in the workhouse； are all on a level in this matter。 All alike
must walk in the 〃old paths；〃 and e to Christ； if they feel
soul…weary and athirst。 All must drink of the same fountain； if they
would have their thirst relieved。
You may not believe what I am now saying。 Time will show who is right
and who is wrong。 Go on； if you will； imagining that true happiness is
to be found in the good things of this world。 Seek it； if you will； in
revelling and banqueting； in dancing and merry…making； in races and
theatres； in field sports and cams。 Seek it； if you will； in reading
and scientific pursuits； in music and painting； in politics and
business。 Seek it in a round of religious formalities；in a
perfunctory obedience to the requirements of a ceremonial Christianity。
Seek it； but you will never overtake it； unless you change your plan。
Real heart…rest is never to be found except in the 〃old paths；〃 in
heart…union with Jesus Christ。
The Princess Elizabeth； daughter of Charles I。； lies buried in Newport
Church； in the Isle of Wight。 A marble monument； erected by our
gracious Queen Victoria； records in a touching way the manner of her
death。 She languished in Carisbrook Castle during the unhappy
monwealth wars； a prisoner； alone； and separate from all the
panions of her youth； until death set her free。 She was found dead
one day with her head leaning on her Bible； and the Bible open at the
words； 〃e unto Me； all ye that labour and are heavy…laden； and I
will give you rest。〃 The monument in Newport Church records this fact。
It。 consists of a female figure reclining her head on a marble book；
with the text already quoted engraven on the book。 Think what a sermon
in stone that monument preaches！ Think what a standing memorial it
affords of the utter inability of rank and high birth to confer certain
happiness！ Think what a testimony it bears to the lesson before you
this day；the mighty lesson that there is no true 〃rest〃 for any one
excepting in Christ！ Happy will it be for your soul if that lesson is
never forgotten！
（b） But who is there among the readers of this paper that has walked in
the 〃old paths；〃 and found the rest which Christ gives？ Who is there
that has tasted true peace by ing to Him； and casting his soul on
Him？ Let me entreat you never to leave the 〃old paths；〃 and never to be
tempted to think there is a better way。 Stand fast in the liberty
wherewith Christ has made you free。 Turn not aside to right or left。 Go
on to the end of your days as you have begun； looking to Jesus and
living on Him。 Go on drawing daily full supplies of rest； peace； mercy；
and grace from the great fountain of rest and peace。 Remember； that if
you live to the age of Methuselah； you will never be anything but a
poor empty sinner； owing all you have and hope for to Christ alone。
Never be ashamed of living the life of faith in Christ。 The 〃old paths〃
will bear thinking of to all eternity。 The way of the world is a way
which will not bear calm reflection now； and of which the end is shame
and remorse。 Men may ridicule and mock you； and even silence you in
argument； but they can never take from you the feelings which faith in
Christ gives。 They can never prevent you feeling； 〃I was weary till I
found Christ； but now I have rest of conscience。 I was blind； but now I
see。 I was dead； but I am alive again。 I was lost； but I am found。〃
Last； but not least； look forward with confidence to a better rest in a
world to e。 Yet a little time； and He that shall e will e； and
will not tarry。 He will gather together all who have believed in Him；
and take His people to a home where the wicked shall cease from
troubling； and the weary shall be at perfect rest。 He shall give them a
glorious body； in which they shall serve Him without distraction； and
praise Him without weariness。 He shall wipe away tears from all faces；
and make all things new （Isa。 25：8）。
There is a good time ing for all who have e to Christ in the 〃old
paths；〃 and mitted their souls into His keeping。 They will remember
all the way by which they have been led； and see the wisdom of every
step in the way。 They will wonder that they ever doubted the kindness
and love of their Shepherd。 Above all； they will wonder that they could
live so long without Him； and that when they heard of Him they could
hesitate about ing to Him。
There is a pass in Scotland called Glencroe； which supplies a beautiful
illustration of what heaven will be to the man who es to Christ。 The
road through Gleneroe carries the traveller up a long and steep ascent；
with many a little winding and many a little turn in its course。 But
when the top of the pass is reached； a stone is seen by the wayside；
with these simple words engraven on it； 〃Rest； and be thankful。〃 Those
words describe the feelings with which every one who es to Christ
will at length enter heaven。 The summit of the narrow way will be won：
we shall cease from our weary journeying； and sit down in the kingdom
of God。 We shall look back over all the way of life with thankfulness；
and see the perfect wisdom of every little winding and turn in the
steep ascent by which we were led。 We shall forget the toils of the
upward journey in the glorious rest。 Here in this world our sense of
rest in Christ at best is feeble and partial； but 〃when that which is
perfect is e； that which is in part shall be done away。〃 Thanks be
unto God； a day is ing when the end of the 〃old path〃 will be
reached； and believers shall rest perfectly； and be thankful！
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＇5＇ The substance of this paper was originally preached in a sermon in
the Chapel Royal；