Year: 1879

Daoh MOfnlnS.
For the Repuoltcau.


Sabbath morning Elder Geo. X Kra-
mer preached from Jer. 4. 10: " Thus
saith the Lord stand ye in the ways
and see, and ask for the old paths,
where is the good way, and walk there.
in, and ye shall find rest for your soul. "


We are wholly dependent upon di
vine revelation, he said, for knowledge
of our origin, nature and destiny. Its
illumination is only adequate to pene-
trate the obscurity of life's problem,
and the radiation from the Bible lights
the pathway of those who accept it as a
light unto their feet and lamp unto
their path, with brilliancy that shines
more and more until the perfect day.
This light is required while men stand
/" in the ways, that they may correct.
ly determine which Of the two high
ways before them "leadsth unto life. "
"Stand ye in the ways" hesitate, de-
liberate, do not unadvisedly take the
new road but "ask for the old paths. "


Personal preterment with many makes
the decision, and their choice they de-
nominate the "old way" Falsely they
reject the admonitioDs of ".hus saith
the Lord" and invite policy and world
ly considerations and pride to indicate
their paths. Others walk in new ways
of error because they yield to mental
Incidence which sluggishly despises
and disdains an investigation of truth.
These will not deliberate upon the mo.
mentous questions of mans nature and
destiny the character and time of re-
wards, the tinality of sin and its
votaries. There is general belief
prevalent regarding these great issues,
but, alas, few will "ask for the old
paths" and by the criterion of Gods
infallible word test those ideas which
now the professed church share in
common with the world.


The "good way" in which We should
walk and wherein we shall find rest for
our souls may only be discerned from
others by the expressions of Gods
word. "'ro the law and to the testi
mony, if they speak not according to
this word it is because there is no truth
in them. If we find the ways in which
men walk defined by scripture Ian
guage as in harmony with the ways of
the prophets and apostles, then their
claim for them as the "old paths" is
sustained, but if they are compelled to
depart from the idion and language of
the Bible in order to express their doc
trines, We may know assuredly that their
claimis false.


The old book was the standard
and delineation of the old paths cen
turies ago when the prophets lived who
wrote them, and their pure simple,
comprehensive language, now as then,
perfectly defines the ''old paths" We
should always suspicion doctrine or
theology which is reduced to the ex-
trenity of adopting expressions un-
known to scripture to convey their
ideas. 1t is new way, obviously.


Future life is basal doctrine of the
Bible, yet the mode of its attainment,
and time Of reception is now miscon-
ceived by the neglect of the belief Of
clear statements of scripture. A new
doctrine teaches that, it is attained by
virtue of mans soul being immortal,
yet no such statement is in Gods book.
No words in the old book express this
false doctrine. Vainly it may be
searched from Genesis to Revelation,
hence it must not be accepted by those
who task tor the old PATHS The old
doctrine of the mode by which saints
attain eternal life is expressed by "Tby
dead men shall again. not do continue
to live while dead. 81 will ransom
them from the power of the grave"
but ifmen had not actually died but
had gone to heaven they would have
already been beyond the power of the
grave. New doctrine teaches that man
is inherently dearthless and unperisha-
bic. The old doctrine: "The soul
that sinneth it shall die" "The wages
of sin is death" New doctrine: "The
wicked shall live forever in agony"
Old doctrine: "They shall be as though
they had not been.' They shall utter
ly perish"


Concerning the time at which saints
receive their reward the new doctrine
declares We 60 to heaven as soon as we
die. This is a palpable contradiction.
TO die implies non existence, while go
ing to heaven implies life. Old doctrine,
| / M, ,Ot I
away to prepare place for you n \ and
| will come again and receive you unto
myself. Behold | come quickly and
my reward is with me.' New doctrine,
All the prophets and saints and David
are in heaven. Old doctrine, "These
all died in the faith not having received
the promise, a better thing having been
reserved for lis, that they without us
should not be made perfect. David
hath not assembled into the heavens.
No man hath assembled inso heaven but
the Son of man that came down from
heaven New doctrine, The dead are
either in happiness in heaven or in
torment in hell. Old doctrine, "All that
are in the graves shall hear the voice
of the Son of God, and shall come
forth, they that have done good unto
the resurrection of life, and they that
have done evil unto the resurrection of
damnation.'


Regarding practical ehri ristianity the
new doctrine teaches that it is compat-
ible with the follies and vanities of
the world. Old doctrine, "Come out
from a among, and be ye separate and
| will receive you saith the Lord"


The Holy Spirit is ever capable of
delivering ideas in concise and accurate
language, and has done so in the sa.
cred word. When our doctrine COIN
cides with the Bible and its ancient
land marks, and can precisely be ex
L,ri &c, t,I