Charles Spurgeon - Sermon Notes 0089

CHARLES SPURGEON — SERMON NOTES

89.

Ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. — Jeremiah 6:16

IT is the distinguishing feature of the good old way that in it we find rest for our souls. This is one of the tokens by which we may discern the false from the true.

Rest was the promise of the Savior."I will give you rest."

Rest is the point in which the law failed. Moses could not lead the people into Canaan, neither can the works of the law conduct us into the rest of God.

Rest has been enjoyed by believers, and it is now enjoyed by them.

Rest is never found apart from the gospel, and faith in Jesus.

Rest comes not from wealth, health, honor, or any other earthly thing.

I. IN "THE GOOD WAY" WE FIND REST IF WE WALK THEREIN.

We walk by faith in the gospel way, and are rested.

1. The way of pardon by an atonement gives rest to the conscience.
2. The way of believing the Word as a little child gives rest to the understanding.
3. The way of trusting our affairs with God gives rest to the mind.
4. The way of obedience to divine commands gives rest to the soul.
5. The way of communion with Christ gives rest to the heart.

It is no little matter which can rest the desires, the fears, the regrets, the questionings, of our manhood; but gospel doctrines, promises, and precepts, and the gospel spirit accomplish this.

II. REST FOUND BY WALKING IN "THE GOOD WAY" IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL.

Some forms of rest rust and injure the soul; but this does not.

1. It brings satisfaction, but not self-satisfaction.
2. It brings a sense of safety, but does not lead to presumptuous sin.
3. It creates content, but also excites desires for progress.
4. It removes legal fears, but supplies superior motives for holiness.

It is actually beneficial to a man to walk in the good way, for as a saved believer his possession of salvation:

Supplies him with an answer to the bribes of Satan; for what can Satan offer which could be preferable to assured salvation?.

Sets him free from personal anxiety, and thus enables him to serve the Lord without distraction, since he is himself saved.

Engenders intense love to his Savior for his completed work.

Excites him to holy imitation of his heavenly Father, who is so gracious as to afford rest to the weary.

III. REST OF THIS KIND SHOULD BE ENJOYED NOW.

It is so enjoyed by many of us, and it is a grievous error when it is not the case with all real Christians.

1. You should be in the way, know that you are there, and try to keep to the very middle of the road. Truly believe in Jesus, and perfect rest must come. "Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God" (Rom. 5:1).

2. You should have no doubt that the way is good, and that it is the way of the Lord. This is the assurance of understanding.

3. You should lay aside all anxious care because "he careth for you."

4. You should feel an intense satisfaction in Jesus. You will do so unless you live at a distance from him, and so miss his presence and smile. A present Christ is a well of delight.

5. You should indulge the largest anticipations concerning your future blessedness, both in time and in eternity.

We challenge Romanists, sacramentarians, sel0usticiaries, and the like, to say that they have any rest. Rome does not promise it even to her own votaries, either in this world or in the world to come; but goes on saying her masses for the repose of the souls of her own departed cardinals, who evidently are not at rest. If her most eminent divines go to purgatory, where do the common people got

We invite all the laboring and laden to come and try the Lord Jesus, and see if he does not rest them at once, and forever.

We bear our own willing testimony to the sweetness, safety, perpetuity, and truthfulness of the rest of faith.

Way-Marks

It is called "the good way." It is not the easy way: the idle and the foolish ask for that, but it is not worth seeking for, since it leads poverty and perdition. Neither is it the popular way, for few there be that find it. But it is the good way, made by a good God, in infinite goodness to his creatures; paved by our good Lord Jesus, with pains and labors immeasurable; and revealed by the good Spirit to those whose eternal good he seeks. It is the way of holiness, of peace, of safety, and it leads to heaven. Is it not good? It has been traversed by the best of men since time began, and the unclean do not pass over it. It is good at its commencement, for at its entrance men are born again; it is good in its continuation, for they are righteous who hold on their way; and it is good in its termination, for it leads to perfection, to bliss, to God himself.

In this good old way you shall find rest if you have never enjoyed it before; traveling you shall rest, as certain birds are said to rest upon the wing. Joy shall be upon your head, peace shall prepare the place of your feet. It is wisdom's dominion, and concerning her we read, "Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." Rest for the conscience comes to those who enter God's way of salvation; rest of heart arises out of their love to him who is the Way; rest of brain from their acceptance of his teaching; rest of desire from their satisfaction with his person-in a word, the soul rests in all its powers and faculties. Nor does it alone rest in the present; the future is guaranteed beyond all fear. — C. H.S.

Here there is a well-beaten track under our feet. Let us keep it. It may not be quite the shortest way; it may not take us through all the grandeur and sublimity which bolder pedestrians might see: we may miss a picturesque waterfall, a remarkable glacier, a charming view: but the track will bring us safe to our quarters for the night. — Dr. Dale

Dr. Judson once sent for a poor Christian convert, who was about to engage in something which he feared would not be for her spiritual good. "Look here," he said, snatching a ruler from the table, and tracing a not very straight line upon the floor;"here is where you have been walking You have made a crooked track, to be sure-out of the path half the time; but then you have kept near it, and not taken to new roads; and you have, to a certain extent, grown in grace. And now here you stand. You know where this path leads. You know what is before you: some struggles, some sorrows, and finally, eternal life, and a crown of glory. But to the left branches off another very pleasant road, and along the air floats, rather temptingly, a pretty bubble. You do not mean to leave the path you have walked in fifteen years; you only want to step aside, and catch the bubble, and think you will come back again; but you never will." The solemn warning was not given in vain.

CHARLES HADDEN SPURGEON

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