Divine Guidance. 2
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Besides, the grace of prayer may be in exercise when the subject-matter of the prayer may be founded upon a mistake, from the intervention of circumstances which we are unacquainted with. Thus, I may have a friend in a distant country: I hope he is alive, I pray for him, and it is my duty to do so. The Lord, by His Spirit, assists His people in what is their present duty. If I am enabled to pray with much liberty for my distant friend, it may be a proof that the Spirit of the Lord is pleased to assist my infirmities, but it is no proof that my friend is certainly alive at the time I am praying for him: and if the next time I pray for him I should find my spirit straitened, I am not to conclude that my friend is dead, and therefore the Lord will not assist me in praying for him any longer.
Once more, a remarkable dream has sometimes been thought as decisive as any of the foregoing methods of knowing the will of God. That many wholesome and seasonable admonitions have been received in dreams, I willingly allow; but though they may be occasionally noticed, to pay a great attention to dreams, especially to be guided by them, to form our sentiments, conduct our expectations upon them--is superstitious and dangerous. The promises are not made to those who dream, but to those who watch. Upon the whole, though the Lord may give to some people, upon some occasions, a hint or encouragement out of the common way, yet expressly to look for and seek His direction in such things as I have mentioned is unscriptural and ensnaring.
I could fill many sheets with a detail of the inconveniences and evils which have followed such a dependence, within the courts of my own observation. I have seen some presuming they were doing God's service while acting in contradiction to His express commands. I have known others infatuated to believe a lie, declaring themselves assured beyond the shadow of a doubt, of things which, after all, never came to pass; and, when at length disappointed, Satan has improved the occasion to make them doubt of the plainest and most important truths, and to account their whole former experience a delusion. By these things weak believers have been stumbled, cavils and offences against the Gospel multiplied, and the way of truth evil spoken of.
But how, then, may the Lord's guidance be expected? After what has been premised negatively, the question may be answered in a few words from John Newton.
"In general, He guides and directs His people by affording them, in answer to prayer, the light of His Holy Spirit, which enables them to understand and to live the Scriptures. The Word of God is not to be used as a lottery, nor is it designed to instruct us by shreds and scraps, which, detached from their proper places, have no determined import; but it is to furnish us with just principles, right apprehensions, to regulate our judgments and affections, and thereby to influence and regulate our conduct. Those who study the Scriptures in a humble dependence upon Divine teaching, are convinced of their own weakness, are taught to make a true estimate of everything around them, are gradually formed into a spirit of submission to the will of God, discover the nature and duties of their several situations and relations in life, and the snares and temptations to which they are exposed. The Word of God dwelling richly in them is a preservative from error, a light to their feet, and a spring of strength and consolation. By treasuring up the doctrines, precepts, promises, examples, and exhortations of Scripture in their minds, and daily comparing them with the rule by which they walk, they grow into an habitual frame of spiritual wisdom, and acquire a gracious taste, which enables them to judge of right and wrong with a degree of readiness and certainty, as a musical ear judges of sounds; and they are seldom mistaken, because they are influenced by the love of Christ which rules in their hearts, and a regard to the glory of God, which are the great objects they have in view. In particular cases the Lord opens and shuts for them, breaks down walls of difficulty which obstruct their path, or hedges up their way with thorns, when they are in danger of going wrong, by the dispensations of His providence. They know that their concernments are in His hands; they are willing to follow where and when He leads, but are afraid of going before Him. Therefore they are not impatient. Because they believe, they will not make haste, but wait daily upon Him in prayer; especially when they find their hearts most engaged in any purpose or pursuit, they are most jealous of being deceived by appearances, and dare not move farther or faster than they can perceive His light shining upon their paths. I express at least their desire, if not their attainment: thus they would be. And though there are seasons when faith languishes, and self too much prevails, this is their general disposition, and the Lord, whom they serve, does not disappoint their expectations: He leads them by a right way, preserves them from a thousand snares, and satisfies them that He is and will be their Guide even unto death."—John Newton (1770).
We heartily commend the above article to the careful attention of those who are exercised about the matter of Divine guidance. Its exposure of the foolish, fanatical and superstitious devices employed by not a few today, when they are undecided as to their line of duty, is timely. The positive side of the subject is capable of and probably needs some amplification, and we hope to write an article thereon for the next issue. The general rule or principle may be stated thus: if we are daily concerned in seeking to please God in all the details, great and small, of our lives, He will not leave us in ignorance of His will concerning us. But if we are accustomed to gratify self and only turn unto God for help in times of difficulty and emergency, then we must not be surprised if He mocks us, and allows us to reap the fruits of our own folly. Our business is to walk in obedient subjection to Christ, and His sure promise is "he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness" (John 8:12). Make sure you are sincerely endeavoring to "follow" the "example" Christ has left us, and He will not leave you in ignorance or uncertainty as to which step you should take when you come to the parting of the ways.—Arthur Pink.
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