The Marrow of Sacred Divinity - William Ames (1642)

Chapter 1. Of the Definition, or Nature of Divinity.

1. Divinity is the doctrine of living to God, John 6. 68. The words of eternall life, Acts 5. 20. The words of this life, Rom. 6. 11. Reckon your selves to be alive unto God.

John 6:68, Acts 5:20, Romans 6:11

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2. It is called a doctrine, not as if the name of Intelligence, Science, Sapience,³ Art, or Prudence were not hereto belonging; for all these are in every accurate Discipline, and especially in Divinity: but because this discipline is not from Nature and humane invention, (as others are) but from divine revelation and institution. Isay 51. 4. Doctrine shall proceed from me, Matth. 21. 25. From Heaven: why did you not then believe him? John 9. 29. we know that God spake to Moses, Gal. 1. 11. 12. The Gospell is not according to man: for neither did I receive it from man, neither was I taught it, but by Revelation, John 6. 45.

Isaiah 51:4, Matthew 21:25, John 9:29, Galatians 1:11-12, John 6:45

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3. The principles of other Arts being inbred in us may be polished and brought to perfection, by sense, observation, experience, and induction: but the solid principles of Divinity how ever they may be brought to perfection by study and industry, yet they are not in us from Nature. Matth. 16. 17. flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee.

Matthew 16:17

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4. But seeing every Art consists of rules, whereby some Act of the Creature is directed, and seeing life is the most noble of all acts, it (that is Divinity) cannot properly be conversant about any other thing then about life.

5. And seeing, that, that life of the Creature is most perfect, which comes neerest to the living, and life-giving God, therefore the nature of Divinity life is to live to God.

6. Men live to God when they live, according to the will of God, to the glory of God, God inwardly working in them, 1. Pet. 4. 2. 6. that he might live after the will of God; according to God. Gal. 2. 19. 20. That I may live to God: Christ lives in me. 2. Cor. 4. 10. that that life of Jesus might be manifest in our bodies. Phil. 1. 20. Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life or death.

1 Peter 4:2, 6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Corinthians 4:10, Philippians 1:20

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7. This life, as touching its essence remaines one and the same, from its beginning unto eternity. John 3. 36. & 5. 24. He that believeth in the Sonne hath eternall life, 1. John 3. 15. Life eternall remaining in him.

John 3:36, 5:24, 1 John 3:15

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8. But although in this life there is contained as well to live happily as to live wel, yet , to live well, is more excellent then , to live happily; and that which ought cheifly and finally to be respected is not blessednesse, which respects our profit, but goodnesse, which is referred to Gods glory. Therefore Divinity is better defined by that good life whereby we live to God, then by a blessed life whereby we live to our selves; as it is called of the Apostle by a Synecdoche.⁴ The doctrine according to God lives, 1. Tim. 6. 3.

1 Timothy 6:3

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9. Moreover seeing this life is a spirituall act of the whole man, whereby he is caried on to enjoy God, and to doe according to his will, and it is manifest that those things are proper to the will, it followes that the prime and proper subject of Divinity is the will. Pro. 4. 23. From the heart commeth actions of life. And 23. 26. Give me thy heart.

Proverbs 4:23, Proverbs 23:26

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10. But seeing this life and will is truly and properly our most perfect practise, It is of it selfe manifest, that Divinity is practicall, and not a speculative discipline, not onely in that common respect, whereby other disciplines have their , well doing for their end, but it is practicall in a peculiar and speciall manner and above all other.

11. Neither indeed is there any thing in Divinity which is not referred to the last end, or to the meanes pertaining to that end: all of which kind doe directly tend to Practise.

12. This practise of life is so perfectly contained in Divinity, that there is no precept universally true pertaining to living well, contained in the disciplines of houshold government, morality, politicall government or making Lawes, which doth not properly pertaine to Divinity.

13. Divinity therefore is of all Arts, the supreame, most noble, and the master-peece, proceeding in a speciall manner from God, treating of God, and divine matters, and tending and leading man to God, in which respect it may be not unfitly called , or , as well as , that is a living to God, or a working to God, as well as a speaking of God.

Notes

Wisdom – the ability to apply knowledge, experience, understanding or common sense and insight. ↩

Synecdoche refers to the whole by one of its parts. Referring to a car as “wheels” is a synecdoche. In a Metonymy, the word used to describe another thing is closely linked to it, but not a part of it. Using “Crown” to mean power or authority, is a metonymy. A Metaphor uses one thing to describe another; the better the metaphor is understood, the better what it describes is understood. “She was transformed, just as a caterpillar is transformed into a butterfly.” ↩

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The Marrow of Sacred Divinity - William Ames (1642)

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