The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-08-11
The Divine Guidance.

and perishing, you knew not where 70 60
nor how 10 ind your way out of the
tangled wood. How you would welcome
some guide, How you would rejoice to
have some one come and say, 81 will lead
you to safety, and where you will fnd
continual protection" 1 say you would
welcome that guide. Such is the wilder.
ness of this world; and surrounded by
unseen dangers and entirely insufficient
TO protect himself, is the representation
OF man in this world of struggles and
trials. In this world of sin, many men
are forgetting their guide, and trusting
that their own wisdom will lead them
out of the danger. This reminds me o.
some travellers in Switzerland. They de
termlned to make their own way up the
Alps, and refused TO accept a guide.
Early in the morning they started, and
went on and on, until finally they found
themselves above the clouds, and discoy
cred that they were lost and night was
coming on; and there, in the tangled
wllds OF the mountain, they had TO re
main until the rejected guide came and
led them out of their danger. Only the
other day read of party who went
into the Mammoth Cave. A few deter
mined to wander around without the
knowledge Of the guide soon they found
themselves lost. Some of the ladies
tainted from fear, and several came near
FALLING into Echo river, from which, II
they had, no echo of their fate would
ever have been heard. After while
their absence was noticed, the guide set
out in search of them, and they were
found. This illustration shows how
much, in this world of danger, we need
some spiritual guide, and God offers to
be this guide. tie comes to US in the
language of the text, and says, " ] will
continually guide thee and satisfy thy
soul"
In one sense God is the director of all
things and all events in heaven, earth
and hell. The text refers to a special
guidance, not that general guidance just
mentioned; but to that gracious guild
ance given only to those who put them
selves in Ills hands and ask for that di-
vine guidance which is the promise Of
this text. The Psalmist says that "the
steps of the good man are ordered by the
Lord" There is a spiritual guidance
which satisfies his soul and leads him
into safety from the dangers which
threaten.
Now this guidance is a wise guidance.
From an army parties Of men are sent
out to reconnoitre; and those of you
who fought in the late war remember
how earnestly a competent guide was
sought, how he was followed through
the country and how much the success
of the expedition depended upon hiIl
In the divine guidance there is no doubt
about this wisdom. God says, will
guide thee with mine eye" That ex
preston means that lie is capable OF
leading and protecting US in the midst
of every danger This guidance is prom
ised if we will only accept il.
Then it is necessarily a protecting
guidance. We want a guide that is
strong and brave, and will not desert US
in times Of danger. God says He will
lead into paths of pleasantness and
peace, and will guide us all the way, if
we but lovingly and obediently follow
Him. The promise of the text is, 81
will guide thee continually" and the
counterpart of that promise Is found in
the words of the Psalmist-"l will be thy
guide even unto death" In every time
of need and in every question with
which we have TO deal, it devolyes upon
us as Christians TO ask God TO lead us
and God pity that Christian who dares
to do anything without going down
upon his knees and asking God to lead
him that he may perform his duty
Alright.
This is not guidance for times of
trouble only; but in the night and in
the day, in the darkness and In the
light, in danger and safety, we need the
same guidance, and all through life,
down to the grave, God has promised to
lead us.
All the way my Saviour lead me:
What have / TO ask beside?
Can doubt His tender mercy,
Who thro' life has been my guide?
When my spirit, cloth'd immortal,
Wings its flight TO realms Of day,
This my song through endless ages
Jesus led me all the way.
But how does God guide his people
| have already intimated that He guides
us by His providence. Although we may
not see this guidance all the time, yel
He is leading, and marking out the way.
Down in the valley there is a fog which
prevents us from seeing clearly; but if
we 90 up on the mountain top, we shall
see the sunshine all about us. So it is
with the Christian; if he could rise
above the fog of this worlds troubles
and cares he would see the love of God
shining all around him. God has said
He will send the Comforter to US, and
there is a world of meaning in that word
Comforter The Greek word trans
lated thus cannot be properly expressed
in one English word, but it means that
the Holy Spirit comforts by instructing
and guiding the Christian. Though Goo
guides us by His Holy Spirit, He has
also given us His Holy Word, and by
this blessed book, by every word thai
God has spoken, we are to seek to be led
into all holiness. BY this we are to
be guided, and we may know that We
will be safe when we have committed
ourselves to the guidance of His Divine
Word. Now often times this guidance
may be invisible; but, just as surely as
the pillar of cloud guided the children
of Israel by day, and the pillar of fire by
night, so certainly does God guide thost
who follow His divine will.
The text says "He shall satisfy thy
soul" and it means that the soul OF mai
is satisfied only when it is guided by th'
divine will. Neither infidelity, nor an,
of the pleasures OF this world, can sat
isfy the longings of the soul. Only thi:
gospel can do it. God help us thi
morning to lift up our hearts and say
"We will follow Thee Sinner, thi
Leader offers to guide you and to Civ,
you life everlasting. Come this da.
and give your heart to Him, and HEAVIER
shall be your final home. He shall leat
you down into the dark valley rhert
| friends cannot go with you. Ther,
comes an hour when the breath viii
grow fainter and fainter, and you will g
down into the depths of the grave; yot
have to go alone or go with Jesus. ii
promises to go with you through tn
grave, and into the better land. Go'
help you to take this Guide to day an'
walk with Him through life and find
home with Him in heaven. Amen.