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GODS
METHOD
07
LEADING.
633
loss
of our
estates,
&c.
David
oftentimes found temp
-,
tations surrounding
him.
For God
then
to
conduct
us,
or
to lead us by
his
providence,
is
to guide
us
through
this world in
such a
way
and course of
life
as is-least
ex-
posed to
temptations
and
motives to
sin.
III.
Again,
God
leads
us by his
Spirit.
By
this he
teaches
us to
understand
his
providences and his
word
Suppose a map or globe
of
the world
were
set before a
child,
he
would
not
well know which
is
the way from
one place
to another, or understand
the meaning
of
those lines and
articles
in
it,
which
is
the
way
from
one
port
to
another,
what rocks are
to be
avoided,
what
shelves
to
be
shunned, without
some guide
to
teach
and
instruct
him.
Thus it
is
with
us
;
God
has given
us
his word
as a
map and
chart
to
direct our
passage
through
this world,
but
we
are
as
ignorant
as
children
of it, un-
less he
guides
us
by
his
Spirit.
This
then
is
the design
of
the
spirit of
God
to
teach
us,
and
guide
us to
heaven
by
explaining
his word
and providence.
Sometimes,
indeed,
he
leads
us
contrary
to the seeming;indignations
of
his
providence, but never to
his
word.
If
I
would make any inferences, they should
be
these
two
.
I.
What
need
is
there
of
,divine
leading
in
our
way
to
heaven
when
there
are
so
many snares,
so
many
difficul-
ties,
to
allure or affright
us from
our
God, and
his
worship,
and
his ways
?
II.
How
full shall
our
joy
be in heaven, when
we
are
brought
home
in
safety
;
when
we
shall look back
upon
this
great
wilderness wherein
there
were
so
many
fiery
flying
serpents, wherein there
were
so
many
temptations,
so
many difficulties, so
many enemies
that
opposed
our
journey.
It
may
be
perhaps one of our delightfulest con-
templations to look upon the various methods of
divine
grace to
bring
us to heaven.
First,
What
is
implied
in
this
comfort
?
Answer.
It
implies all
that
inward peace and
joy that
belongs to
re-
ligion
in
this
life,
and
that
flows
from the
hope
of
bless-
edness in
the
life
to come.
I
will
restore
to
him,
saith
the
Lord,
a sense
of
my
love,
and
shed
it
abroad
in his
soul,
and compose all the
powers
of
his
nature
into di-
vine
peace.
I
will
say
unto
him,
He is
my
beloved, as
well
as sweetly
constrain
him to love-me.
I
will
give
hint
a
sight
of
the grace
that
is
in my
heart
for him,
and