1. The Spirit performetb the office of a guide and leader to the godlj'.
The Spirit giveth us life, motion, and direction — these three things are inseparable in nature and grace ; life, motion, and conduct. The same causes which make us live, make us act. The creature dependeth upon God in his motion, as well as his being, Acts xvii. 28 ; and the regulation of our motions belongeth to the same power. It is so in nature, and it is much more so in grace, and they succeed in this order ; it is a work that followeth regeneration ; first, we are born of the Spirit, before we are moved and guided by the Spirit. The Spirit first infuseth the gracious habits : Ezek. xxxvi. 26, ' A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put into you.' Secondly, He exciteth the soul to act, and assisteth the new creature in acting according to these habits and principles : Phil. ii. 13, ' He worketh in us both to will and to do according to his own pleasure ;' Gal. v. 2.5, ' If we live in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit.' Thirdly, He directeth our actions by enlightening our understandings, and governing and guiding our inclinations, to do that which is pleasing to God. This is that which I am to speak of ; and here I shall show you, that. —
[1.] This direction is promised : Isa. xxx. 21, ' And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.' God guidetli his people in all their ways to heaven and happiness ; not only by general directions, but particular motions and excitations : Ps. xxv. 9, ' The meek will he guide in judgment, and the meek will he teach his way.' This is the privilege of poor, meek, and humble souls, that they shall not want a guide to direct them in the way to heaven ; so ver. 12, ' What man is he that feareth God ? him will he teach in the way that he shall choose.' An humble believer, that would not displease God for all the world, and counts the least sin a greater evil than the greatest temporal loss, may be encouraged to expect light and direction from God, to order all his actions so as he may best please God :
VeE. 1-1.] SERMONS UPON EOMANS Vlir. 93
Isa. xlviii. 17, ' Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, I am the Lord thy God, which teacheth thee to profit, that leadeth thee by the way thou shouldest go.'
[2.] So it is begged by the saints, as a great and necessary blessing : Ps. XXV. 4, 5, ' Show me thy ways, 0 God, teach me thy paths ; lead me in thy truth, and teach me ; for thou art the God of my salvation ; on thee do I wait all the day long.' Mark how earnest lie is — show me, teach me, lead me ; as if he could never enough express his desu-e and value of this benefit. Mark his argument, ' Thou art the God of my salvation,' in covenant with us, and the God of our salvation ; so he hath undertaken in the covenant to save us ; as God is our God, so he hath undertaken to be our guide, to teach and lead us; and doth not lay aside this relation tdl our salvation be accom- plished. And mark his continual necessity, ' on thee do I wait all the day long ; ' as if he would not be left for a moment in the hand of his own counsel. So, Ps. cxix. 33, ' Teach me, 0 God, the way of thy [statutes, and I shall keep it unto the end.' The way to heaven is a narrow way, hard to be found, hardly to be kept, and easily mistaken, except God teach us daily by his Spirit. There are immmerable by- paths from terrors and allurements witliout, and we of ourselves ai'e weak, and subject to errors within : so Ps. cxliii. 10, ' Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God ; thy Sj^irit is good, lead me into the land of uprightness.' They that would walk circumspectly, and incur no blame from God, and hazard to their souls, need ever to seek direction from God according to his covenant. We need such teaching, as hath with it leading ; and such direction, as hath with it strengthening unto obedience ; such as will not only help us to understand the general rule, but also how to apply it to particular actions, that no part of our duty may be left upon ourselves ; and this only can we have from the Spirit of God, who directeth and leadeth us in all our choice,s and actions. Well then, whosoever would walk in a regular course of life, in an exact obedience to all the commands of God, and do nothing but what is all perfectly good and acceptable in God's sight, must thus beg for the leading of his gracious and sanctifying Spirit, who is the only fountain of all goodness and holiness, to direct him and assist him in every turn and motion of his life.