GODS LEADING OF HIS PEOPLE. 631 this blessing, the ,nature of it, and the methods which God uses to lead his people by. The nature of this blessing has these three things in it : I. Leading implies the presence ofhim that leads, with him that is led. II. Leading is a gentle method of conduct. III. It implies safety in our whole course. I. Leading implies the presence of him that leads, with him that is led. When one person leads another in a path, there is a mutual friendship. See now the extent of this blessing. God reconciles a backsliding soul to himself, and vill be present with him that he may not ruri away. I will heal him and will lead him, saith the Lord. I will take hire by the hand, and afford my constant gracious presence with him, and he shall not run so far back from me again as he has done. Such great backslidings that draw near to apostacy, are not frequently repeated in the life of a christian. II. Leading implies a gentle methodof conduct. God has been before trying by severe providences to bring the soul back to himself, that is, the shepherd takes his rod into his hand, and endeavours to drive his wandering sheep into the fold again: well, it will not do; then, saith God, I will take him by the hand and will gently lead him. Our Saviour is represented as a gentle shepherd, that leads his flock. ka xl. I I. Those that are feeble, those that are burthened and oppressed with many sor- rows and temptations, they shall be led gently that they may not faint and fall away. Such gentle methods as a compassionate mother uses towards her children, such does our Lord Jests Christ use towards his feeble saints, and especially when he has found that severe methods will not do. III. Divine leading implies safety to the end. He will conduct us safely through all the dangers that attend in journeying, and will bring us to his upper house. So he led Israel of old in the wilderness through many dangers, he made his own people to go forth out of Egypt like sheep, he guided them in the wilderness like a flock, he brought them along safely to the land which he had promised, to the .borders of Canaan. Thus he will lead us safely till he brings us to a promised inheritance, the heavenly Canaan, ,his own bosom. 2S4
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