"feeling led". The mortifying of the deeds of the body will prove a sufficient reason for

keeping my own silence on the subject for some time to come.

B--When we squarely face this deep and solemn aspect we may then appreciate the fact

that holiness and liberty are nearer together than we may at first have believed. "If we

are led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law" (Gal. 5: 18). This passage is followed by

two contrasting lists, the one of the works of the flesh, the other of the fruit of the Spirit,

and concerning those who produce this fruit, the apostle adds, "against such there is no

law". To be led by the Spirit, therefore, will manifest itself in the fruit of the Spirit, or as

verse 25 concludes: "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit", the walk

being the sphere of the leading.

A--It seems that these two passages exhaust the actual references in the N.T., but I can

quite see that they are very full.

B--They practically focus the whole teaching of the O.T. In these two passages we may

discern the pillar of cloud, the presence of the Lord, the leading in, and by, truth, the

humbling and proving: in other words the "mortifying" experiences of Israel, and the

Rock that is higher.

What remains in the N.T. on the subject is by way of example, and particularly the

example of Paul.

Seeing that this example has been specially given, we must give it a place in our

A--I Cor. 4: contains some arresting statements. The apostles says: "We are fools for

Christ's sake . . . . . we are weak . . . . . we are despised." He gives a list of unequalled

sufferings and indignities which reach their climax in the words: "We are made as the

filth of the world, and the off-scouring of all things."

B--And yet, at the end of such a list, he says, "Follow me"! Can we dare to trifle with

the question of the Lord's leading with this chapter before us? The context of I Cor. 11:

manifests a spirit ready to give up rights and pleasures, "Not seeking mine own profit, but

the profit of many . . . . . be ye followers of me".

A--And what a contrast in Phil. 3:--Paul counting all things loss for Christ, and the

others making a god of their belly and glorying in their shame.

B--If sin and death meant the cross for Christ, the leading of His Spirit can be in one

direction only. We are not here in this world to "have a good time", we are here found as

sinners, saved by grace, with a wilderness path to tread and glory on before. He leads us