GOD'S METHOD OF LEADING. Secondly, The parts of which this blessingconsists, are such as these : I. Leading implies direction in dark and doubtful ways. The childrenof God shall find their Father's leadings when duty seems to be obscure.. God will direct them which is the way in which they should walk. Our enemies are many : sin within, and the world without us ; but God will defend us. Again, when, snares stand thick, then God will lead us in the right way, it may be free from snares and temptations ; they shall hear a voice, saying, This is the way, walk in it. II. This impliesassistance in walking through difficult paths, and wherein are many oppositions. Thus you have Goddescribed, aiding his people, in Deut.,xxxii. W, 1' 1, 12. It was he made them as it were to leap over mountains that stood in 'their way ; nothing could hinder their progress to Canaan. Again, this implies support under weariness and faint- ings; when we undertake to lead people we expect that sometimes they should lean upon us : thus God is the rock and support of all that trust in him when they are ready to fall he will uphold them by his right-hand ; they shall walk and not faint, they shall run and not be weary; because their God is with them : he takes care to supply them with every thing that is necessary till they arrive at the heavenly country : when, through .difficulties in their way, they are ready to be overwhelmed, he will remove them all, and support them. Who is this that comes out of the wilderness leaning upon her beloved ? The church of Christ leans upon him whom she has chosen for her beloved, all the while she is in this world till she comes to her father's house. Thirdly, The methods God leads his people by are these : His word, his providences, and his Spirit. I. He leads by his word ; this is his map; or sea-chart, wherein he has discovered all the by-roads, all rocks and shelves, that his people may escape them. II. By his providence also he leads us. Lead us not into temptation ; that is, let thy providence be such through our lives that we may not be exposed to tempta- tions. Sometimes divine providence encompasses us all around with strong temptations, as-when we are brought into evil company, when we cannot serve God but by the
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