THE OLD PATHS by F. W. Morse

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 1, 1869

THE OLD PATHS.

By F. W. Morse

“Ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” Jer. vi, 16.

As a people it would do us good to make search for the old paths—hunt up the old foundation. There was a time when love was more prevalent among us than at the present. This principle was so prominent that a foreseeing revelation called them the church of brotherly love—“Philadelphia.” Think of the union that ran from heart to heart when the “Midnight Cry” fully developed the Philadelphian state of the church! There was a love and oneness visible at that time, only equaled at the pentecostal time when believers were of one accord, of one mind, and had all things common: no man said that anything he possessed was his own exclusively. Earthly possessions were sold, and the money brought forward and put down to be used in the general distribution, as every one had need.

This kind of an outlay would be regarded as good evidence that men were crazy nowadays.

But we can learn how well the investment paid, and how wonderful the riches of the income, by calling up the record of the dealings of God with his people in those days of primitive power and goodness.

Dungeons and death awaited the persecuted believers in those days; yet being poor, afflicted, tormented, their poverty abounded unto the enriching of many.

Thousands were converted unto God; the word of God had free course. It moved upon men as the lightning’s shock. Believers did not stand in the way of the work.

F. W. MORSE.

Tenhassen, Minn.