Grace by admonitions?

What is the place of admonitions both among the saints and in the preaching? Should we be dismissive of admonitions for fear that telling people about their calling will not increase their ability or motivation to carry it out?

When Canons III/IV:17 says "For grace is conferred by means of admonitions" it certainly does not mean that admonitions by themselves are of any value, as much as sacraments in and of themselves are also of no profit. These means of grace are only empowered when the light of the Gospel illuminates them. And further, that illumination is only seen through the eyes of faith: "For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." (Hebrews 4:2)

The very same can be said of admonitions--to the unregenerate and unbelieving, they are of no value. But to those who believe the Gospel, as the knowledge of the Gospel has been preached to them, "grace is conferred by means of admonitions". And this is why the preaching may not merely consist of admonitions--since these admonitions not only ought to be connected to the Gospel as the motivation, power, and freedom to do them, but also for any who may be present who have as yet no living knowledge of the Gospel (without which the admonitions are fruitless).

Notice how in this passage, "the word of God which ye heard of us" is specifically the exhorting, comforting, and charging them to walk worthy of God, and that this word of God, including these admonitions, effectually work in the believers:

"As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." (1 Thessalonians 2:11-13)

Yet the Gospel is similarly vain if it is not connected to admonitions. The Gospel does not produce the fruit of holiness and righteousness spontaneously of itself if not connected to admonitions. And yet the purpose of the Gospel is our salvation from sin to the glory of God in Jesus Christ. That purpose is not achieved without our sanctification in this life, and our glorification in the next. And God always accomplishes His purposes. Therefore wherever the Gospel is preached, admonitions are also heard.

"This promise, together with the command to repent and believe, ought to be declared and published to all nations, and to all persons promiscuously and without distinction, to whom God out of his good pleasure sends the gospel." (Canons II:5)

To take Paul's letters to churches as an example, almost every letter could be divided into a more theological and more practical section--yet even this division is artificial, since the two are so closely intertwined and connected that it is impossible to separate them. Try, if you can to separate the admonitions from the Gospel in these verses--we can identify and distinguish them very clearly and distinctly, but we cannot separate them:

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee." (Titus 2:11-15)

Let us not despise the Gospel or the admonitions of the Gospel.