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.

2. Of their own inability to do any one act right; how they are not
sufficient of themselves to think any thing as of themselves, 2 Cor.
iii. 5; and that without Christ they can do nothing, John xv. 5.

3. Of the insufficiency of any human help, or means, or way which they
might think good to choose, to mortify aright one corruption, or to give
strength for the discharge of any one duty; for our sufficiency is of
God, 2 Cor. iii. and it is "through the Spirit that we must mortify the
deeds of the body," Rom. viii. 13.

4. And of the treachery and deceitfulness of the heart, which is bent to
follow by-ways, being not only "deceitful above all things, but also
desperately wicked