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GOD'S
METHOD
OF
LEADING.
Secondly,
The parts
of
which
this blessing
consists,
are
such
as
these
:
I.
Leading
implies
direction
in
dark and doubtful
ways.
The
children
of 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 implies
assistance
in
walking through
difficult
paths,
and wherein
are
many oppositions.
Thus
you
have God
described,
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