One Hundred and Ninety Sermons on Psalm 119

3. The third thing observable from hence, is the necessity of directing grace, Oh that my ways were directed.

I shall first premise some Distinctions.

1. There is a general direction, and a particular direction: (1) The general direction is in the word, there God hath declared his mind in his statutes: He hath showed thee, O man, what is good, Micah 6. 8. (2) A particular direction by his Spirit, who doth order and direct us how to apply the rule to all our ways, Isa. 58. 11. The Lord shall guide thee continually. Now this particular direction is either to our general choice, Psal. 16. 7. I will bless the Lord who hath given me counsel. It is the work of God only to teach us how to apply the rule so as to choose him for our portion. Or secondly, as to acts and orderly exercise of any particular grace, so 2 Thes. 3. 5. The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. Or thirdly, as to the management of our Civil actions; as the pillar of the Cloud went before the Israelites in their Journeys, so doth God still guide his people in all their affairs both as to duty and success. As to Duty, Prov. 3. 6. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Ask his counsel, leave and blessing; in doubtful things ask his counsel; in clear cases ask his leave: Shall I go up or not? and then ask his blessing. As to Success,