No man ever circumcised his own heart. No man can say he began to do it by the power of his own will, and then God only helped him by his grace. As the fact of outward circumcision on the body of a child was the act of another, and not the of the child who was only passive therein [but the effect was in the body of the child only], so it is in the spiritual circumcision—it is the act of God, in which our hearts are the subject. It is the blindness,, obstinacy, and stubbornness in sin that is in us by nature, withe the prejudice's which posses our minds and affections, which hinder us from conversion to God. But by the circumcision hey are taken away.
—John Owen "Discourse on the Holy Spirit"

All company with unbelievers or misbelievers is not condemned. We find a Lot in Sodom, Israel with the Egyptians, Abraham and Isaac with their Abimelechs; roses among thorns, and pearls in mud; and Jesus Christ among publicans and sinners. So neither we be infected, nor the name of the Lord wronged, to converse with them, that we may convert them, is a holy course. But still we must be among as strangers: to pass through an infected place is one thing, to dwell in it another.
—-Thomas Adams

When you address yourself to prayer, desire and depend upon the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God—without which you are not truly able to pray. It is a supernatural work, and therefore the principle of it must be supernatural. He that has nothing of the Spirit of God cannot pray at all. He may howl as a beast in his necessity or distress. Or the may speak words of prayer, as some birds learn the language of men, but pray he cannot.
Learn to keep a watchful eye over your own hearts throughout every step of the way….by keeping up a continual remembrance of the presence of God…. from beginning to end, keep sight of Him.
—Robert Leighton "A Practical Commentary on 1 Peter"

The Holy Spirit purifies and cleanses us, by strengthening our souls by his grace unto all holy duties and against all natural sins…The blood of Christ immediately purges us from our sins by an especial application of it to our souls by the Holy Ghost, [who] proposes, declares and presents to us the only true remedy, the only means of purification. To have a true spiritual sense of the defilement of sin, and a gracious view of the cleansing virtue of the blood of Christ is an eminent effect of the Spirit of Grace.
—John Owen "Discourse on the Holy Spirit"

We, therefore, see that this great gift of the Holy Ghost is granted entirely on the Redeemer's account, and by the authority of his office, for the building and inhabiting the desolate temple of God with men.
Thus far we have been considering the temple of God individually taken… I now pass on to treat of the external state of the Christian church, and of the whole community of Christians (Eph. 2:20-22). Other foundation none can lay than Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11). Yet some are for super-structuring one thing, some another…Great differences there have long been, and still are, about setting up the pinnacles and adjoining certain appendicles… Some are for garnishing and adorning it in one way, some in another. and too many agitate these little differences with contentious heats and angers…Ill-willers look on with pleasure… But it is built on a rock, against which the gates of hell can never prevail!
There yet will be a time of so copious an effusion of the Holy Spirit as will invigorate it [the church] afresh, and make it spring up out of its withered state into its primitive liveliness and beauty…But before that time there [may] be a day that shall burn as an oven… wherein the jealous God shall plead against the Christian church, for its lukewarmness and scandalous coldness in the matter of serious substantial religion… no less scandalous heats and fervour's and trivial formalities, with just indignation and flames of consuming fire.
—John Howe "The Living Temple"

A PROFITABLE TREATISE  CONTAINING A DIRECTION

for the reading and understanding of the holy Scriptures by:

Master Richard Greenham.

Those things which God hath joined together, no man may sever asunder. Therefore, preaching and reading of the holy Scriptures being of God joined together in the work of our salvation, may not be severed asunder. In all sciences, arts and trades, teachers and masters are requisite ordinarily for the sound learning and practicing of them: we must be persuaded much more, that it is necessary to have guides to go before us in the way to salvation. That preaching is the most principal means to increase and beget faith and repentance in God's people, must be granted, Deut 18:18; Deut 33:10; Lev 10:11; Mal 2:6-7; 2 Chron 36:15; Isa 50:4-5, 7-8; Isa 53:1; Isa 55:10-11; Isa 57:19; Isa 58:1; Isa 61:1; Isa 62:1,6-7; Matt 13:3; Matt 28:19-20; Eph 4:11-14; Rom 10:14-15; 1 Cor 1:21; 1 Pet 1:23, 25. And where this ordinary means of salvation faileth, the people for the most part perish: Prov 29:18; Hos 4:6; 2 Chron 15:13; Isa 56:9; Matt 15:14; Luke 11:52. But that the reading of the Scriptures publicly in the Church of God, and privately by ourselves, is a special and ordinary means, if not to beget, yet to increase faith in us. It is likewise proved, Deut 6:6; Deut 11:18; Ps 1:2; John 5:39; Matt 14:15; Rom 15:14; 2 Pet 1:19; Neh 8:8; Acts 13:15; Acts 15:21. The manifold fruit which comes of the reading of the Scriptures proves the same.

Reading rather establisheth, than derogateth from preaching: for none can be profitable hearers of preaching, that have not been trained up in reading the Scriptures, or hearing them read. Many inconveniences come from the neglect of reading, as that the people cannot tell when a sentence is alleged out of the canonical Scriptures, when out of the Apocrypha, when out of the Scriptures, when out of other writers, that they cannot discern when he speaketh his own, or a sentence of the Scripture.

Again reading helpeth men's judgments, memories and affections, but especially it serveth for the confirmation of our faith: which may be proved by the example of the men of Berea, Acts 17:13; it serveth to discern the spirits of men, 1 John 4 to make sounder confession of our faith, to stop the mouths of our adversaries, and to answer the temptations of Satan and the wicked.

But because men sin, not only in neglect of hearing and reading, but also in hearing and reading amiss: therefore the properties of reverent and faithful reading and hearing are to be set down, which are these that follow: they be eight in number.

1. Diligence.

2. Wisdom.

3. Preparation.

4. Meditation.

5. Conference.

6. Faith.

7. Practice.

8. Prayer.
(continue by clicking link on right hand side)

The three first go before reading and preaching. The four next come after them. The last must go before, and be with them, and come after them.

1. If diligence be necessary in reading profane authors, then much more in reading the Scriptures. Diligence maketh a rough way plain and easy, and of good taste, which otherwise is hard and unsavory. In our diligence we must keep an even course, and not to be like those who upon some sudden good motion, or by reason of some good company, or by reason of some good action draweth near, or for fear of danger, etc. read for a time, and soon after give over again. Read Prov 2:12; Matt 13:44.

2. With diligence must be joined wisdom, which is in choice of:

A. Matter

B. Order

C. Time

Matter.

For want of wisdom, in the matter they read, many sin in studying other books before the Scriptures, and in the Scriptures in searching things not revealed, and pretermitting things revealed, as John and James sought who should sit at Christ's right hand, and left hand: but they sought not to come thither. And his disciples said, Acts 1:6, Wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel: not asking the means to come to the kingdom of heaven. And in things revealed, many will curiously and busily search for things not profitable, as genealogies, and carelessly neglect the things that are to be searched. And some ignorant how to reform themselves, will be talking of reforming the Church. And if the preacher must give milk to the weak, and stronger meat to the stronger Christians: if he must thus apply his doctrine to the hearers, then much more the hearers themselves must apply their own reading to their own capacities.

Order.

Wisdom is in order: as that men must be fast grounding in the principle points of doctrine: first we must lay the foundation and build upon the same: also we must keep an order in our readings, and not be now in this place, now in another: for order is the best help for memory and understanding: he that readeth little after a good manner, profiteth more then he that readeth much otherwise: as he that limpeth in the way, doth better then he that runneth in another way, or out of the way. Therefore, for want of order many read much, but profit little.

Time.

Wisdom must be used in discerning the times: for we must not read always, and do nothing else, as some offending in the one extreme, are after driven by Satan to the other. The sabbath is wholly to be spent in such exercise: on other days, in the morning, at noon, and in the evening, that is, when we may redeem that day from the works of our calling, as David and Daniel did pray at these three times, under which is contained all the worship of God. We must do as much as we can every day and no day must pass without line. God hath made every thing beautiful in his time. Eccles 3:11.

3. Preparation followeth: If any man go away without any profit, and either understandeth not, or understandeth amiss, want of preparation is the cause.

Preparation is:

A. In fear of God his majesty

B. In faith in Jesus Christ

C. In a good and honest heart, with a greedy desire to eat up God's word

In all apparitions God always sent fear before, as his apparitor, it engendreth teachableness, and meekness of mind, as we see in Isaac, who (as it is said) feared, and then he said, I have blessed Jacob, and he shall be blessed. [Gen 27:33] We see it also in the woman of Samaria, John 4:7 and in the men Acts 2. From want of this reverent fear, cometh all checking of God his work , and that men dare be so bold with it: but they that fear will be swift to hear, and slow to speak James 1:19. and will lay up his word in their heart [Luke 2:19,51] with the virgin Mary. Though they understand it not, though they kick at the word and spurn against it, yet if God once teach them with is fear, then will they acknowledge it to be the blessed word of God.

Fear cometh upon men sometime they know not how: and if then they go to God they shall find some excellent blessing; either in having their understanding enlightened, or some good affections put into them.

This fear is in respect of God his majesty and our own corruption, to correct the pride of reason, and to control our affections: and experience will shew, that when our reason and affections are tamed by misery, calamity, sickness, and inward grief, then we are very teachable. And when men err, then the pride of their reason is punished, as in heretics and profane persons. Contrarily, God his good spirit resteth upon the humble to clear their understandings but they first crucify their understanding and affections, and offer them up in a sacrifice to God.

1 Cor 2.

Faith in Christ is the second thing in this preparation, we must bring that with us when we come to read, looking on him as on the Messiah, that must teach us all things: he is the lion of the tribe of Judah, to whom it is given to open the book of God. [Rev 5:5] He opened the hearts of the disciples going to Emmaus. Preachers build hay and stubble, because they do not only glory in him, but do seek credit and preferment by preaching themselves. All heretics differ among themselves, yet they all agree in this that they err from Jesus Christ.

Good heart.

A heart prepared to learn is required, Prov 17:16. Wherefore is there a price in the heart of a fool to get wisdom and he hath none heart? Our Lord Jesus Christ hath, that those that brought forth fruit (when they had heard) some thirty, some sixty, some an hundredfold, they were such as received the word with a good and honest heart, Luke 8:15. Here faith a godly and learned man, men are shut out because they come without a heart.

Now followeth the properties that must follow our readings: whereof, the first is meditation, the want of which makes men depart without fruit, though they read or hear diligently. Meditation makes that which we have read to be our own. He is blessed which meditates in the law day and night. Ps 1:2.

Meditation is either of the:

A. Mind and understanding

B. Heart and affections

Meditation.

Meditation of the understanding, is when reason discourseth of things read, or heard, which the wife of the heathen call, the refining of judgment, the life of learning. They that want this, how much soever they have heard or read, yet shall they never have found and settled judgment. And for this cause it is said, that the greatest clerks are not the wisest men.

Meditations of the affections, is when having a thing in judgment, we ever digest it and make it work upon our affections. It is a continual searching of our selves, and laboring to lay up all things in the treasures of our hearts. The other will go away expect this be joined with it: for judgment will away except we frame our affections unto it.

Meditation in judgment goeth before: then this must follow, the we may be found in judgment before we either fear or cheer up our hearts, lest we have false fears, or false joys. Many are of sound judgment, and yet have not their hearts purged and touched: they can give counsel to others, but cannot follow themselves, because they join not affection with judgment. Meditation without reading is erroneous, and reading without meditation is barren.

Conference.

The next thing is conference. In natural things man standeth in need of help, the much more in spiritual things he standeth in need of others. And as iron sharpeneth iron: so one friend another, Prov 27:17. And as two eyes see more, two ears hear more and two hands can do more then one: so this is a special communion of saints, and God hath promised, that when two or three are gathered together in his name, that he will be present with them by his spirit, as he was corporally with his disciples going to Emmaus

Conference is either with

A. Ministers of God

B. Our equals

C. Or others

This rule must be kept, that conference with our equals must be of those things which we heard of our ministers, as it must be kept also in meditation, which is a conference with ourselves. We must for a time like babes hang at the mouths of the ministers, because we cannot run before we go: nay we cannot go without a leader. No man may presume to understand above that which is meet to understand, but to labor to understand according to the measure of sobriety, as God hath dealt to every one the measure of faith: and when they have laid the foundations, then build the walls and pillars. The Eunuch would not interpret the world without a guide, but he laid it up in his heart, as the virgin Mary did. For want of the true humility conference is slandered, because it is used after an evil manner, as before they be surely grounded in principal points of religion, to talk of other matters. Secondly, we must come in love without anger, envy, or desire of victory: therefore in conference we must use the preparation spoken of before: the want of which maketh much janglings and wranglings in company.

Lastly, we must procure things honest before men, that it may be done wisely, without confusion and destruction: and not by too great a multitude, that we may afford our doings before men; not with the doors shut, least any man should hear. This is the difference between the conference of the godly and religious, and the conventicles of heretics.

Faith.

The next thing is faith: The word must be mixed with faith: Heb 4:2, The word which they heard, profited them nothing, because it was not mixed with faith. But all have not faith: therefore the prophet Isaiah said, Lord who will believe our report? [Isa 53:1] And Luke 18:18, Suppose ye that the Son of man when he cometh shall find faith on the earth? All the former must be used to refine faith: for as gold before it be pure is seven fold tried in the fire, so faith which is much more precious then gold, must go through all these means.

Supra. Of preparation

Faith here is an increase of all that in preparation. A merchant must have something before he be a merchant, but he occupieth to increase and get more: but we must use all the forenamed means to increase our knowledge and faith in all particulars. One may be a faithful person generally, and yet an unbeliever in particulars. As Christ's disciples to whom he said, If you had faith but as much as a grain of mustard seed, etc. [Matt 17:20] As Abraham, Rebecca, and Zachary had.

There is a difference between faith and opinion or knowledge: for our knowledge and opinions vanish away in afflictions. But as gold is tried in the fire, so faith will abide the fire of affliction. Satan winnowed Peter, but his faith failed not: for Christ failed not, for Christ prayed for him, and for his disciples, and for all believers, that their faith should not fail.

Practise.

Next followeth practice: That we have a desire that the word may bring forth increase of faith and repentance. Ps 119:98, By the commandments thou hast made me wiser then my enemies for they are ever with me. The practice of infidels is nothing, because it is not joined with faith. But Christ saith, Blessed are they which hear and do. [Luke 8:21] And so saith James, that this is that assureth us that we have faith. He that doeth this, is compared unto him that buildeth his house upon a rock, and our works are not the foundation of the house, but then we have builded upon Christ. When we join the fruits of our faith with knowledge, they will speak for us, to our consciences, and to others. Our Savior Christ saith, that that servant that knoweth the will of his master and doth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes: for it is the worse to offend of knowledge then of ignorance. And why should he give us any more, if we practice not that we have? For to him that hath shall be given, but from him that hath not shall be taken away, etc. Why do many hearing the word, either continue or increase in their blindness, but because they would not practice that they knew, and also even that they had is taken from them? If a good conscience be not joined with faith, faith shall be taken away and errors succeed. If then we be forgetful, we must confess that the want of practice is the cause thereof. The rule of reason in all things is, that the best way of learning is by practice: then how much more if we practice will God increase our talents.

Prayer.

The last thing is prayer, which must be used both in the beginning, in the middle, and in the end. Prayer must be in all the former means: for without it we can never use them, nor have any blessing by them.

Prayer containeth under it

A. Prayer

B. Thanksgiving

For prayer, that it must be used when we read, it is plain 1 Cor 2:9, The eye hath not sees, etc. meaning not only the joys contained in the kingdom of heaven, but even those that are contained in the word. And again in the same place, As no man knoweth the heart of a man, but the spirit of man: [1 Cor 2:9-11] so no man knoweth the meaning of the Lord in his word, except God give him his spirit to declare it unto him. And if we must pray when we come to our meat and drink, that God may give nourishment to us by them then how much more must we pray God to nourish us by his word: for else we cannot profit thereby. And as no man dare touch meat and drink before he pray, and we have no title to it before it be sanctified to us by prayer: so how impudent are they that dare touch God's book without prayer, or think that otherwise they have title unto it? Paul may plant, and Apollos may water, but God giveth the increase: [1 Cor 3:6-7] so if any be senseless still, and yet have heard long, it is because God hath not revealed his will unto them. Men may be diligent, yet they shall err if God give not his Spirit: and though they meditate and confer, yet they shall be punished for giving liberty to their roving brain and to their tongue, except they pray for God's spirit.

Many rest in knowledge, and want faith, because they want prayer: and we rest in knowledge, and never practice, because we pray not to God to write his law in our hearts by his Spirit, that now, not we, but he may work in us. They that take anything in hand without prayer, however they say they abhor popery yet they practice it, because they take upon them to have some power in themselves.

Thanksgiving.

For thanksgiving, if we be bound to praise God when he hath fed our bodies, how much more when he hath fed our souls? And shall God be justly offended with us, if we thank him not for our refreshing, with meats, sleep, etc? and shall we not tremble for fear of revenge, if we have not praised God for any light, or any good motion that he hath put into us? For want hereof, after some lightning followeth some darkness, and after much feeling cometh deadness: and by this means Satan goeth about to take all God's graces from us. David saith, Blessed art thou Lord, O teach me thy statutes. [Ps 119:12] This sheweth that we must ever praise God before we come to read. Many are fervent in asking, but cold in giving thanks. And if we would give thanks to God, it would much ease us in asking, and God would not punish us in taking his graces from us.

FINIS.

We are like the child that lives and strives for a time blindly in the womb, but in this dark life of ours, there is a divine instinct, power, and faculty… that noting here can suffice: which shows.. that there is a condition which shall make a man fully happy; there must be a better life, which is, the spiritual life: for this life which we live in the flesh, is a thing of nothing… A Christian furnished with this spiritual life, can see Christ, and glory beyond all things in this life; he can look backwards, make use of all things past, see the vanity of things so admired of others, he can taste things nature doth not relish, he hath strength of reasons beyond all the apprehensions of reason: he is a man of strong working.
—Richard Sibbes "Saints Cordials"

The Lord Christ had called his apostles to the great work of building his church, and the propagation of his gospel in the world. Of themselves, they were plainly and openly defective in all qualifications and abilities that might contribute anything to it. But whatever is wanting in themselves… he promises to supply it… by sending the Holy Spirit to them, on whose presence and assistance alone depended the whole success of their ministry in the world.
…And this is the hinge whereon the whole weight of it turn and depends to this day. Take it away… and there will be an absolute end f the Church of Christ in this world—no dispensation of the Spirit, no church.
—John Owen

Today we have Bible memorization programmes, and the technology to help them stick, such as this one by John Piper's  ministry So, what excuse do we have. And also, God makes it quite clear, that ignorance is not an excuse for sin. And I myself have long believed, that ignorance is often a choice.

A New England Antinomian  was heard to utter:

I had rather hear such a one that speaks from mere notion of the Spirit, without any study at all, than any of your learned scholars, although he maybe fuller of Scripture.

Which would also seem to confirm my theory that often, ignorance is a choice.

According to a biography on John Bruen, Robert Pasfield who was an illiterate servant of Bruen's was:

"a man utterly unlearned, being unable to read a sentence or write a sylablle. Yet he was so well acquainted with the history of the Bible, and the sum and substance of every book and chapter, that hardly could any ask him where such a sayinkg or sentence were, but he would with very little ado tell them in what book, and what chapter they might find it."

We all have to start somewhere. You can't expect a two year old Christian to have the vast stores of understanding and knowledge  that a 15 year old on will have. But if after, considerable time has passed, and  medical reasons notwithstanding, that could cause it,   the person remains ignorant as many a new born babe, then, I think that person should do some soul searching to ask why it is so.

Lord perseve us from ignorance, and from choosing the worldly pelasures to the dteriment of spiritual concerns. Give us grace to perservere, even when we don't see  progress, but trust that your grace is sufficient, in this matter, as much as it is, in any other. In Jesus, Name. Amen.

This seems like it maybe an appropriate post to start off my series of "Reformed or Deformed" which at the moment I am trying to organize in my mind to set down on paper in an organized way.

The same Spirit that guided the holy apostles and prophets to write it, must guide the people of God to know the meaning of it; and as he first delivered it, so must he help men to understand it.
—Thomas Goodwin

The Spirit represents the person of Jesus Christ. He works and effects whatever the Lord Christ had taken upon himself to work and effect towards his disciples…All their work and duty being  suspended on the accomplishment of that promise since he is God, they might suppose that he would come with some absolute new dispensation of truth, so that what they had learned and received from Christ should pass away and be of no use to them. To prevent any such apprehension he lets them know that the work he had to do was only to carry on and build on the foundation which was laid in his person or doctrine. This was the Holy Spirit to do. And this he did.
—John Owen, "Discourse on the Holy Spirit"

The spiritual beauty and comeliness of the soul consists in its conformity to God… Grace gives beauty… The beauty originally consisted in the image of God in us, which contained the whole order, harmony, and symmetry of our natures, in all their faculties and actions, with respect to God and our utmost end… Sin has a deformity in it, brings spots,  stains, and wrinkles on the soul… Holiness and conformity to  God is the honour of our souls. It is that alone which makes them truly noble…This we have only by holiness, or that image of God wherein we are created. Whatever is contrary to this is base, vile, and unworthy.
—John Owen, "Discourse on the Holy Spirit"

Without union with Christ, no man can have either his righteousness or his indwelling Spirit. Nor can they be separable… it is an unsupposable thing, that one should be God's temple enlivened and animated by his own Spirit, and yet be under remaining guilt and liable every moment to his consuming wrath. Or, that he could be any whit the better to have all his former guilt taken off and still be "dead in trespasses and sins."
–John Howe "The Living Temple"

How does Christ give his Spirit to us? The Spirit, so necessary for us, is given by the ministry of the Gospel, which is the ministry of the Spirit (Gal. 3:2) When the love of God in Christ, and the benefits by Christ are laid open in the preaching of the gospel to us, God gives his Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ. Now God in Christ would save us by a triumphant and abundant love and mercy, and the Spirit of God never goes but where there is a magnifying of the love and mercy of God in Christ. Therefore, the ministry of the Gospel, which alone discovers the amity and love of God to mankind, being now reconciled in Christ, is accompanied with the Spirit… Christ is the first gift, and the Spirit is the second.
—Richard Sibbes "A Description of Christ"

A spiritual darkness and death came by sin on all mankind… In thi state of things, the Holy Spirit undertook to create  a new world… wherein righteousness should dwell.  And this, in the first place, was by his effectual communication of a new principle of spiritual life to the souls of God's elect… This he does in their regeneration… All our faith and obedience to God, and all our acceptance with him, depend on regeneration or being born again.
—John Owen, "Discourse on the Holy Spirit"

These therefore must have the cream of the gospel… The Lord Jesus takes more care, as appears by three parables,  for the lost sheep, the lost goat, and the prodigal son, than for the other sheep, the other pence,  or for the son that said he had never transgressed (Luke 15)… The mind of Christ was set on the salvation of the biggest sinners in his lifetime.
The apostles, after the ascension of Christ, preached to the very worst of these Jerusalem sinners, even to those that were the murderers of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:23). Peter said if they were sorry for what they had done, and would be baptized for the remission of their sins in his name, they should receieve the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:37, 38)
—John Bunyan, "The Jerusalem Sinner Saved."

The fountain of this life being in God and the fullness of its being laid up in Christ for us, he communicates the power and principle of it to us by the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Ghost is the author and cause of the work of regeneration… Nothing is more in words acknowledged than that all the elect of God are sanctified by the Holy Ghost. And this regeneration is the head, fountain or beginning of our sanctification, virtually comprising the whole in itself.
—John Owen "Discourse on the Holy Spirit"

That admirable goodness of God, which shows itself in raising up temples in this vile world by the Spirit of Emmanuel, claims our subordinate co-operation as under-builders of this structure (Phil. 2:12, 13)
The whole work of faith–that entire work necessary to be wrought upon the soul of man in order to his future felicity, and that by God's own power–is called the fulfilling or satisfying, the good pleasure of his goodness (II Thess. 1:11). Oh the plentitude of satisfaction which our blessed Lord takes in the fulfilling  of the good pleasure of his goodness, when the methods are complied with, according whereto he puts forth his power for effecting such a work!
—John Howe "the Living Temple."

Consider what punishment a sinner was, by the violated law of works and nature, liable to in this world or in the world to come. And what of this [punishment] is remitted in virtue of the Redeemer's sacrifice and covenant. He was liable to whatsoever miseries in this life God should please to inflict, to temporal death, and to a state of misery hereafter. [But] Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, that blessing might come upon us… that we might receive the promise of the Spirit (Gal. 3:13, 14).
"Repent, be baptized, for the remission of sins, and receive the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38). The great promise of the gospel covenant is that of the gift of the Holy Ghost. It does not promise you wealth, or ease or riches, or honours. But it promises you that God will no longer be a stranger to you, refuse your converse, withhold the Spirit from you. Your souls shall no longer lie waste and desolate… By the remission of sin the bar is removed, and nothing can hinder the Holy Ghost from entering to take possession of your souls, as his own temple and dwelling place.
—John Howe, "The Living Temple"

It was the Holy Spirit who glorified the human nature of Christ, and made it in every way fit for its eternal residence at the right hand of God, and a pattern for the glorification of of the bodies of them that believe on him… He is the exemplar and pattern of that glory which in our mortal bodies we shall receive by the same Spirit.
–John Owen, "Discourse on the Holy Spirit."

The Holy Spirit is given to this purpose of restoring the temple of God with men …under a two-fold notion: as a builder and an inhabitant.
Till this blessed Spirit be given the temple of God is everywhere in ruin. Therefore, he cannot dwell till he build, and he builds that he may dwell (1 Cor 3:9, 16)…This temple, being a living thing, the very building and formation of it is …generating. And because it is to be again raised up out of a former ruinous state wherein it lay dead and buried in its own ruins, this new production is regeneration…This new birth must be by the Spirit.(Eph 2:19-22)
—John Howe "The Living Temple"

The great work of the Holy Ghost in the dispensation and ministration of the gospel… gives to the ministry of the gospel both its glory and its efficacy. Take away the Spirit from the gospel and you render it a dead letter, and leave the New Testament of no more use to Christians than the Old Testament is to the Jews…
There is not any spiritual or saving good from first to last communicated to us, or that we are from and by the grace of God made partakers of, but it is revealed to use and bestowed on us by the Holy Ghost… There is not anything done in us or by us that is holy and acceptable to God, but it is an affect of the Holy Spirit… Without him we can do nothing.
—John Owen, "Discourse on the Holy Spirit"