*The way therefore to be a faithful, and fruitful labourer in the vineyard of Christ, is to stand yourself in a full dependance on the Spirit of God, as having no power, but as his instrument, and by his influence, in all that you do; and to call others, not to their own strength or rational powers, but to a full hope and faith of having all that they want, from God alone; calling them to himself, to a birth of essential, inherent goodness, wisdom and holiness from his own eternal word and Holy Spirit, living and dwelling in them. For as God is all that the fallen soul wants, so nothing but God alone, can communicate himself to it; all therefore is lost labour, but the total conversion of the soul, to the _immediate, essential_ operation of God in it. As to the other parts of your office, whether they relate to things prescribed, or to such as are to be done, according to your best discretion, there will not be much difficulty, if you stand in the state above described. As to several _outward forms_ and _orders_ in the church, they must be supposed to partake, in their degree, of that Spirit, which has so long bore rule in all church divisions. But the private man is not to consider, how outward things should be, according to the primitive plan, but how the inward truth, which is meant by them, may be fully adhered to. Baptism and the Lord’s supper, are differently practised in almost every particular church. But the way to be free from scruples herein, is to keep yourself, and your people wholly intent on that _spiritual good_, of which these institutions are the appointed outward figures, namely that spiritual regeneration, which is meant by baptism, and that _spiritual living in Christ_, and Christ in us, which is meant by the supper of the Lord. And then, though the sacraments practised by you should have any outward imperfection in them, they would be of the same benefit to you, as they were to those who used them in their first, outwardly perfect form. And thus you will be led neither to over-rate, nor disregard such use of them, as is according to the present state of the church. It is only the inward regenerate Christian, that knows how to make a right use of all outward things. His soul being in such a state of union with God and man, as it ought to be, takes every thing by the right handle, and turns every thing into a means of carrying on his love towards God and man. To the pure, all things are pure.