4.  Yet they should beware of laying too much weight on the means and ordinances, as if they could effectuate the business.  Though the Lord hath thought fit to work in and by the means, yet he himself must do the work.  Means are but means, and not the principal cause; nor can they work, but as the principal agent is pleased to make use of them, and to work by them.  When we lean to the means and to instruments, we prejudge ourselves, by disobliging of God, and provoking him to leave us, that we may wrestle with the ordinances alone, and find no advantage.  Therefore the soul should guard against this.

5.  Albeit the means can do nothing unless he breathe, yet we should beware not only of neglecting, as we said before, but also of a slighting way of performing them, without that earnestness and diligence that is required,—­“cursed is he who doth the work of the Lord negligently,” Jer. xlviii. 10.  Here then is the special art of Christianity apparent, to be as diligent, earnest and serious in the use of the means, as if they could effectuate the matter we were seeking; and yet to be as much abstracted from them, in our hopes and expectation, and to be as much leaning on the Lord alone, and depending on him for the blessing, as if we were using no means at all.

6.  They should beware of slighting and neglecting the motions of the Spirit; for thereby they may lose the best opportunity.  They should be always on the wing, ready to embrace the least motion; and they should stand always ready, waiting for the breathings of his Spirit, and open at his call; lest afterward, they be put to call and seek, and not attain what they would be at, as we see in the spouse, Cant. v. 2, 3, 4, &c.

7.  They should also guard against the quenching of the Spirit, 1 Thess. v. 12; or grieving of the Spirit, Eph. iv. 30, by their unchristian and unsuitable carriage; for this will much mar their sanctification.  It is by the Spirit that the work of sanctification is carried on in the soul; and when this Spirit is disturbed, and put from his work, how can the work go on?  When the motions of this indwelling Spirit are extinguished, his work is marred and retarded; and when he is grieved, he is hindered in his work.  Therefore souls must guard against unbelief, despondency, unsuitable and unchristian carriage.

8.  Especially they should beware of wasting sins, Psal. li. 10.  Sins against light and conscience, such as David called presumptuous sins, Psal. xix. 13.  They should beware also of savouring any unknown corruption, or any thing of that kind, that may hinder the work of sanctification.

Secondly, It were useful, and of great advantage for such as would grow in grace, and advance in the way of holiness, to be living in the constant conviction,

1.  Of the necessity of holiness, “without which no man shall see God,” Heb. xii. 14.  “Nothing entering into the New Jerusalem that defileth,” Rev. xxi. 7.