4. As to the _manner_ of using them, whereon indeed it wholly depends, whether they should convey any grace at all to the user, it behoves us, first, always to retain a lively sense, that God is above all means. Have a care therefore of limiting the Almighty. He doth whatsoever and whensoever it pleaseth him. He can convey his grace, either in or out of any of the means which he hath appointed. Perhaps he will. _Who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counsellor?_ Look then every moment for his appearing! Be it at the hour you are employed in his ordinances; or before, or after that hour. Or when you are hindered therefrom. He is not hindered. He is always ready: always able, always willing to save. _It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good!_ Secondly, _Before_ you use any means, let it be deeply imprest on your soul, ♦“There is no _power_ in this. It is in itself a poor, dead, empty thing: separate from God; it is a dry leaf, a shadow. Neither is there any _merit_ in my using this; nothing intrinsically pleasing to God, nothing whereby I deserve any favour at his hands, no, not a drop of water to cool my tongue. But because God bids, therefore I do; because he directs me to wait in this way, therefore here I wait for his free mercy, whereof cometh my salvation. Settle this in your heart, that the _opus operatum_, the mere work done profiteth nothing: that there is no _power_ to save, but in the Spirit of God; no _merit_, but in the blood of Christ: that consequently, even what God ordains, conveys no grace to the soul, if you trust not in him alone. On the other hand, he that does truly trust in him, cannot fall short of the grace of God, even tho’ he were cut off from every outward ordinance, tho’ he were shut up in the center of the earth. * Thirdly, _In_ using all means, seek God alone. In and thro’ every outward thing, look singly to the _power_ of his Spirit, and the _merits_ of his Son. Beware you do not stick in the _work_ itself; if you do, it is all lost labour. Nothing short of God can satisfy your soul. Therefore eye him, in all, thro’ all, and above all. Remember also, to use all means, _as means_: as ordained, not for their own sake, but in order to the renewal of your soul in righteousness and true holiness. If therefore they actually tend to this, well. But if not, they are dung and dross.