312. JER 6:16. THE WAY TO HEAVEN

Jer_6:16. The Way to Heaven

"Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls."’97Jer_6:16.

All human beings are travellers. Life is the way in which they are journeying. Eternity is the termination to which all are daily hastening. Most of these travellers are only anxious about the way, and utterly thoughtless about the end. They live recklessly of the future. Some think of the end, but are not prepared to forego present enjoyments, and thus to secure unending felicity. Some few are living according to the revealed will of heaven, and are ever looking onward to the blissful goal of eternal life. The gospel reveals, and offers everlasting glory. It is the business of the Christian ministry to urge upon men the blessings of immortality. To-night, then, let us hold a little conversation on this important subject. God addresses you all, "Thus saith the Lord." Notice,

I. The Way specified.

II. The Course recommended, &c.

III. The Promise given.

I. The Way specified.

The way is, doubtless, the way of genuine godliness, of true religion. We cannot enlarge and particularize every thing connected with this way; but that we may not err, we shall notice,

1. Its essential characteristics.

(1) It is a way of faith. We place this first. "For he that cometh," &c. "Without faith," &c. The word of God must be believed, before it can produce any saving effect. Christ demanded this. The apostles urged this. The three thousand. The jailer. The people in Samaria.

(2) It is the way of repentance. Which includes a knowledge of sin. A confession of sin. And turning from sin to God. "God now commandeth all men," &c. This repentance is connected with the believing reception of Christ and the gospel.

(3) It is the way of a profession of Christ. Christ must be put on We must depart from the visible broad way of sin and death, and enter the narrow road of life. "If any man will be my disciple," &c.

(4) It is the way of obedience. The obedience of the heart and life to God. Humbly doing the will of our Father who is in heaven. To be religious, is to serve Christ; to hearken to Christ; to follow Christ; to walk so as to please Christ Now, these are essential to religion; and these things are to be kept up, and displayed to the end of our lives. Faith, repentance, profession, and obedience.

2. The description given of this way in the text. We are referred,

(1) To its antiquity. "Old paths." Old as the days of the Protestant reformation of the primitive fathers; of the holy prophets; of Moses; of the patriarchs; of Abel. We have a new dispensation, New Testament; but it is the religion of the beginning of the world. Same object of worship; same mediator; same holiness requisite.

(2) To its excellency. "Good way. Morally good. That which is fit, and just, and right; that which is the result of divine goodness to us, and for us, and in us; that which produces good. To ourselves peace, joy, hope, safety, &c. To all around us. Causes us to resemble the good God. And good for body, for soul, for reputation, for our friends, for time, and for eternity.

II. The Course recommended.

1. Solemn consideration.

"Stand." Pause in your career. Satan would hurry you onwards. The great mass are lost through inconsideration. Consideration is the turning point. "My people do not know," &c. "Thus saith the Lord, consider your ways." When the prodigal came to himself, he began to consider. "O that they were wise." Consider the past, the present; and then infer as to the future. You are urged,

2. To serious inquiry.

"Ask for the old paths," &c. Ask the pious Christian’97the aged Christian’97the lying Christian; especially ask of God. "If any man lack," &c. Ask in the use of the means. Take the word of God. Go to the house of God, &c.

3. To the practical adoption of religion.

Having had it placed before you, choose, resolve, and walk therein. "This God shall be my God," &c. "We will go with you," &c. Make it your business, labor, life. Advance in it. Go forward; be faithful unto death. Notice,

III. The Promise given.

"And ye shall find rest."

1. Rest from guilty fears. "He will blot out," &c.

2. Rest from the slavery of sin and Satan. "Being made free," &c.

3. Rest of eternal life in heaven. "There remaineth, therefore," &c. "Blessed are the dead," &c.

Application

1. Address those in the way of death, &c. "Way of transgressors is hard," &c.

2. Address inquirers. Be in earnest. Do not vacillate. Do not defer. Do not trifle. Now, stand and see.

3. Address the backslider. No rest now. No peace and joy now. Oh, return to this rest.

4. Address the true Christian. Be humble, watchful, fervent, persevering.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS