Worship rightly reverenced

What poor low thoughts have men of God and his ways, who think there lies an acceptable glory and beauty in a little paint and varnish. [John Owen]

God is a Spirit infinitely happy, therefore we must approach him with cheerfulness; he is a Spirit of infinite majesty, therefore we must come before him with reverence; he is a Spirit infinitely high, therefore we must offer up our sacrifices with deepest humility; he is a Spirit infinitely holy, therefore we must address him with purity; he is a Spirit infinitely glorious, we therefore must acknowledge his excellency … he is a Spirit infinitely provoked by us, therefore we must offer up our worship in the name of a pacifying mediator and intercessor. [Stephen Charnock]

Graces and Spiritual gifts combined

they are exceedingly helpful unto each other. A soul sanctified by saving grace, is the only proper soil for gifts to flourish in. Grace influenceth gifts unto a due exercise, prevents their abuse, stirs them up unto proper occasions, keeps them from being a matter of pride or contention, and subordinates them in all things unto the glory of God. When the actings of grace and gifts are inseparable, as when in prayer the Spirit is a spirit of grace and supplication, the grace and gift of it working together, when utterance in other duties is always accompanied with faith and love, then is God glorified, and our own salvation promoted. Then have edifying gifts a beauty and lustre upon them, and generally are most successful, when they are clothed and adorned with humility, meekness, a reverence of God, and compassion for the souls of men.… Gifts on the other side excite and stir up grace into its proper exercise and operations. How often is faith, love, and delight in God excited and drawn forth unto especial exercise in believers by the use of their own gifts. [John Owen]

The way to receive Christ's Love by Faith

free, willing consent to receive, embrace and submit unto the Lord Jesus, as their husband, Lord and Saviour,—to abide with him, subject their souls unto him, and to be ruled by him for ever.… When the soul consents to take Christ on his own terms, to save him in his own way, and says, ‘Lord … I am now willing to receive thee and to be saved in thy way,—merely by grace; and though I would have walked according to my own mind, yet now I wholly give myself to be ruled by the Spirit, for in thee have I righteousness and strength, in thee am I justified and do glory;’—then doth it carry on communion with Christ … Let believers exercise their hearts abundantly unto this thing. This is choice communion with the Son Jesus Christ. Let us receive him in all his excellencies as he bestows himself upon us;—be frequent in thoughts of faith, comparing him with other beloveds, sin, world, legal righteousness; and preferring him before them, counting them all loss and dung in comparison of him … and we shall not fail in the issue of sweet refreshment with him. [John Owen]